During the ODI World Cup 2023's thrilling match between Pakistan and New Zealand, the side successfully chased down a target of 402 runs, led by Fakhar Zaman's remarkable unbeaten score of 126. Despite two interruptions due to rain in Bengaluru, Pakistan secured a victory over New Zealand, triumphing by 21 runs.
As per the latest updates on the points table, South Africa has secured a spot in the semi-finals with a total of 12 points, having won six out of their seven matches. The only remaining possibility for another team to reach 12 points is Australia. Consequently, even if the South African team were to lose their remaining two matches, they would still secure their place in the semi-finals.
In the crucial World Cup match between Pakistan and New Zealand, the Kiwis set a challenging target of 401 runs for six wickets. Rachin Ravindra's impressive century and Kane Williamson's determined innings, falling just short of a hundred, highlighted New Zealand's dominant performance.
Opting to bat first at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, New Zealand took advantage of the favourable batting conditions, causing difficulties for the Pakistani bowlers. Ravindra's 108 off 94 deliveries, along with Williamson's 95 off 79, put pressure on the Pakistani players.
However, after the early departure of Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman skillfully built a formidable 194-run partnership with captain Babar Azam for the second wicket, allowing Pakistan to regain control of the match despite the rain interruptions in Bengaluru. Zaman's unbeaten 126 off 81 balls and Babar's steady 66 off 63 deliveries contributed significantly to Pakistan's successful chase.
Looking ahead, the clash between India and South Africa is anticipated to be captivating, given the distinct strengths of both teams. India has shown excellence in chasing targets, while South Africa is more comfortable when batting first and has faced difficulties in chasing down targets. South Africa's only loss in the tournament occurred during a chase against the Netherlands, and they encountered a tough challenge during their 271-run chase against Pakistan.
In their recent matches, India secured a huge 302-run victory against Sri Lanka, confirming their spot in the knockout stages. their opponents South Africa beat New Zealand by 190 runs in their previous game.
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