On Friday, New Zealand defeated Pakistan by five wickets in a World Cup warm-up match. Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson, who was making his comeback, both had important innings as the Black Caps chased down 345 runs.
New Zealand needed 346 runs to win, but they lost a wicket early on. However, Ravindra (97) and Williamson (54), who put on 137 runs together, were able to bring their side back on track, and they were able to reach the mark with 6.2 overs to spare in Hyderabad.
Pakistan reached 345-5 after deciding to bat first, with Mohammed Rizwan scoring 103 runs and Babar Azam scoring 80 runs, but the New Zealand batsmen made the total appear simple to reach against an outfit that was without its pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Williamson, who had been sidelined for six months owing to a knee injury and played the match only as a batsman, looked excellent throughout his 50-ball stay until he retired out of the game. Williamson played solely as a batsman.
Williamson said regarding his knee after the victory, “It held up pretty good,” however he will not be able to play in the first match of the tournament on October 5 against England.
“Just a dab of icing on top of that (knock),” she said. However, this is a normal step in the procedure. I am thankful for that rehabilitation, and the honour of being nominated to the squad brought me a lot of joy.
Ravindra hammered the bowlers of the other team to all areas of the pitch by hitting 16 fours and one six, but Agha Salman prevented him from scoring a century.
Daryl Mitchell’s score of 59 kept the pursuit on track despite the fact that Usama Mir, a spinner for Pakistan, saw two wickets fall in the space of his two overs.
New Zealand accomplished their goal in 43.4 overs thanks to a partnership of 68 that was put together by left-handed batters Mark Chapman and James Neesham. Chapman struck the winning six as part of his unbeaten 65, while Neesham scored 33.
Rizwan went on to finish his century in another crucial stand with Saud Shakeel, who scored 75. Earlier, Azam smashed eight fours and two sixes before he was bowled by Mitchell Santner. Rizwan’s partner Saud Shakeel made 75.
Rizwan’s innings consisted of 94 balls, during which he hit nine fours, two sixes, and claimed that “a hundred is a hundred under any circumstances.” I have a sense of accomplishment and contentment.”
The match, which along with other warm-ups was not a legitimate one-day match, was played in an empty stadium owing to a Hindu festival and security difficulties in the southern Indian city. The match was played on the same day as another warm-up match.