Pakistan defeat New Zealand by 21 runs in rain-hit match

Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 21 runs in a rain-hit Cricket World Cup clash in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Swashbuckling opener Fakhar Zaman has kept Pakistan alive at World Cup in rain-hit triumph.  He  cracked a blistering century to save Pakistan from World Cup elimination in a rain-affected and dramatic 21-run victory.

The 33-year-old left-hander smashed 11 sixes and eight boundaries in his unbeaten 81-ball 126 as rain forced a premature end to the match with Pakistan 200-1 after 25.3 overs, chasing a revised Duckworth-Lewis-Stern target of 342 in 41 overs.

Set a revised target of 342 off 41 overs, Zaman had moved to 126 and Azam was on 66 with their team on 200-1 in the 26th over when the rain returned, this time bringing the game to an end and Pakistan declared the winners as they were ahead of the required rate.

Rachin Ravindra hit his third century of the tournament while Kane Williamson scored 95 to help New Zealand pile up 401-6 in their 50 overs.

Pakistan and New Zealand both have eight points and remain in contention for semifinal spots with a match each left to play in the group stage.