NZ vs. PAK

On October 20, I wrote:

Sixes by Australia: 19
Sixes by Pakistan: 6
Difference of runs: 78
Margin of defeat: 62 runs

Today's match is at the same ground.

Sixes scored by the entire New Zealand team: 8
Sixes scored by just Fakhar Zaman (so far!): 11

Those risks paid off for Australia and now Zaman is cashing in. In addition to being the only Pakistani double-centurion, he's now the fastest to a century (in a World Cup match). Babar is the number one ODI batsman in the world for his reliability but Fakhar is definitely far more dangerous. The guy is a champion. Ask India 2017.

Rain is ruining the match for the Kiwis as Pakistan is ahead on DLS. It's shortened to 41 overs. Pakistan have to chase 182 in 19.3 overs. It's, now, a T20 chase with 9 wickets in hand.

Damn, rain again. The New Zealand batsmen must be shocked. They scored an epic 401. It's their best collective batting performance of all time and that too in a World Cup.

Yet, at the moment, they're losing!

Game over. Pakistan scored 200/1  in 25.3 overs chasing 402. They win by 21 runs; DLS method. Only the second time in history a team has lost a match after smashing over 400 runs. Ponting's Australia knows how that feels.

Fakhar Zaman, of course, and again, is the Man of the Match.