Babar Azam scored an unbeaten match-winning 101 to help Pakistan beat New Zealand by six wickets in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 (CWC 2019). With this win, Pakistan stays in contention for the semi-finals spot. Meanwhile, this was New Zealand’s first defeat in this World Cup, but they continue to occupy the second spot on the CWC 2019 points table. Pakistan, on the other hand, have now moved to the sixth spot on the team standings. Babar Azam Becomes First Pakistan Batsman to Score Century in CWC 2019, Helps PAK Beat New Zealand.

Chasing 238, Pakistan reached the target in the last over. The pitch was not that easy to bat on but Babar Azam held Pakistan’s innings together to take them through. Pakistan’s chase began on a jittery note and lost openers with 44 on board. PAK vs NZ Full Scorecard

Babar and Mohammad Hafeez then stabilised Pakistan innings and the duo added 66 runs for the third wicket. Hafeez’s dismissal then opened gates for New Zealand but it was Babar and Haris Sohail’s match-winning stand of 126 runs that took the game away from New Zealand. Sohail was run-out in the penultimate over on an individual score 68 off 76 balls.ICC CWC 2019 Points Table

Here are some stat highlights from PAK vs NZ CWC 2019 Match

# Babar Azam become second fastest batsman to complete 3000 ODI runs after Hashim Amla.

# This is Pakistan's seventh win over New Zealand in World Cups.

# Babar Azam becomes first Pakistan middle-order batsman to score a World Cup century in 32 years. Last was Saleem Malik in 1987

# Mohammad Amir conceded 18 off an over - Pakistan’s most expensive over in this World Cup.

# Shaheen Afridi's 10-3-28-3 is the most economical spell by a Pakistan fast bowler in World Cups since Wasim Akram's 2-27 in Manchester in 1999.

Earlier, after Pakistan restricted New Zealand to 83 for five, Jimmy Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme formed an impressive partnership of 132 runs for the sixth wicket and took Blackcaps to a competitive total.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 27, 2019 12:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).