Keeping the Hope Alive - Googly Mania

		
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
								
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
							
				
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
				
		
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        

	
        

        
        

        
        

	
        

        
        
		














		

    

    
        
        
        

Keeping the Hope Alive

With few more games to o and just four teams to qualify further in the semi-finals; some teams like,Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan have a lot to achieve in their remaining matches to be able to change the point stable standings. While New Zealand have started off with a good spirit at the start of the tournament but faltered in front of Pakistan, as Pakistan ceased the game in a desperate attempt to keep their hope alive at ICC World Cup.

Winning the toss and deciding to bat first, New Zealand was finding it hard to score against Pakistan’s bowling attacks as Pakistan registered a much needed victory through well accorded team effort. Desperate to stay back inWorld Cup, instead of getting knocked out,Pakistan bowlers restricted Kiwi batsmen not with wickets but from scoring runs. ShaheenAfridi bowled a brilliant spell to destroy the New Zealand top order, just captain Kane Williamson(41 out; 69b; 4X4) contributing 41 among the top 5. However, New Zealand regained hope of a defendable target when James Neesham(97 not out; 112b; 5X4, 3X6) and Colin de Grandhomme (64 out; 71b; 6X4, 1X6) put a 133 runs partnership to lift the total. With 2 overs to go, the duo trying to steal an extra run falls prey to Mohammed Amir’s quick calculation to stop the ball and an equally quick throw to captain-keeper Sarfaraz Ahmed, outing Colin de Grandhomme. Neesham put out an unbeaten fight taking Kiwi’s to 237 for the loss of 6 wickets. ShaheenAfridi gave a jolt to the Kiwi top order, conceding 3 major wickets, with a splendid economy of 2.80 after his 10 overs.

New Zealand’s only option was to stop Pakistan batsmen from settling down and score. They did scalp the opener Imam-ul-Haq (19 out; 29b; 3X4) and Fakhar Zaman(9 out; 10b; 2X4) early in the game, in accordance with their plan. Third man to bat, Babar Azam played the most sensible innings to lead from the front, firstly, with a small partnership with Mohammed Hafeez(32 out; 50b; 5X4) and then a really effective partnership off 116 with HarisSohail (68 out; 76b; 5X4, 2X6). Babar Azam’s(101 not out; 127b; 11X4) heroics took Pakistan over the line. Under pressure, when the opener of Pakistani team collapsed the middle order stood up to fill the gap and Babar Azam leading from front. Mohammed Hafeez and HarisSohail’s contributions along with Babar’s unbeaten ton helped Pakistan register a comfortable win against New Zealand with 5 balls to spare.

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