Pakistan surprises again with 6-wicket win over New Zealand

BIRMINGHAM, England: Pakistan enhanced its reputation as the most unpredictable team in international cricket with a stunning six-wicket victory that kept its World Cup semifinal hopes alive, ruined New Zealand's perfect record and heaped more pressure on host England.

Babar Azam hit his 10th ODI century, finishing 101 not out off 127 balls, as Pakistan reached 241-4 in 49.1 overs in reply to New Zealand's 237-6.

It was the Black Caps' first loss after five wins and a no result.

Every boundary - 11 of them from Babar - produced a huge roar and a sea of green flags in the stands as an overwhelmingly Pakistan-supporting crowd had a day to remember at Edgbaston.

Babar shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 126 with Haris Sohail, who was run out by Martin Guptill for a 76-ball 68 in the penultimate over after hitting five fours and two sixes. Babar also put on 66 for the third wicket with Mohammad Hafeez (32)

Pakistan moved level on seven points with Bangladesh, one point behind fourth-place England, which has lost its last two games. The top four in the 10-team standings advance to the semifinals.

New Zealand is still in a strong position with 11 points but wasted a chance to secure its place in the last four. It now has difficult games left against defending champion Australia and wounded England.

The New Zealanders chased down South Africa's 241-6 on the same Edgbaston wicket a week earlier. Pakistan, which is not seen as a run-chasing specialist in this format, also went to the last over on Wednesday but on this occasion it was much more comfortable.

Pakistan started its chase quickly - maybe too quickly - on an overcast day with the floodlights on. Trent Boult (1-48) won the battle of the lefthanders when opener Fakhar Zaman (9) was caught by Guptill after an edge went high into the air with the total on 19.

The team were 43-1 after the first powerplay. Guptill then did even better with a diving catch forward to dismiss Imam-ul-Haq (19), who was unable to control a hostile, rising delivery from Lockie Ferguson (1-50), making it 44-2.

There was a lively battle between bat and ball in the 15th over. Hafeez hit Ferguson for two fours, but the fast bowler also hit the batsman on the grille of his helmet.

Pakistan began to accelerate the run chase and the 24-year-old Babar reached a landmark - becoming the second fastest man after South Africa's Hashim Amla to compile 3,000 ODI runs, in his 68th innings.

He posed a real danger to the Black Caps, delicately edging the ball and also turning on the aggression as New Zealand started to run out of options.

Babar and Haris hit nine off one Colin Munro over and 10 off the next from Kane Williamson.

The pair reduced the target to 23 from five overs, 13 in three overs, and 4 in 12 balls before Haris was run out. It was then left to skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed to hit the winning boundary off Ferguson.

Earlier, Jimmy Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme came to New Zealand's rescue with a 132-run partnership for the sixth wicket after captain Williamson had elected to bat first.

Left-arm seamer Shaheen Afridi (3-28) had helped reduce the Black Caps to 46-4 and 83-5, when dangerman Williamson was out for 41.

Neesham struck an ODI-best 97 not out from 112 balls. He hit five fours and three sixes, including smashing the last ball of the innings over the ropes.

De Grandhomme was run out, too slow against Mohammad Amir's throw while going for a second run, after a 71-ball 64.

Pakistan next plays last-place Afghanistan on Saturday before finishing the group stage against Bangladesh on July 5 with a potential semifinal place at stake.

SCOREBOARD

New Zealand

Martin Guptill b Amir 5

Colin Munro c Haris b Shaheen 12

Kane Williamson c Sarfaraz b Shadab 41

Ross Taylor c Sarfaraz b Shaheen 3

Tom Latham c Sarfaraz b Shaheen 1

Jimmy Neesham not out 97

Colin de Grandhomme run out (Amir/Sarfaraz) 64

Mitchell Santner not out 5

Extras: (2b, 3lb, 4w) 9

TOTAL: (for 6 wickets) 237

Overs: 50.

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-24, 3-38, 4-46, 5-83, 6-215

Did not bat: Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult:

Bowling: Mohammad Hafeez 7-0-22-0, Mohammad Amir 10-0-67-1 (2w), Shaheen Afridi 10-3-28-3, Imad Wasim 3-0-17-0, Shadab Khan 10-0-43-1, Wahab Riaz 10-0-55-0 (2w).

Pakistan

Imam-ul-Haq c Guptill b Ferguson 19

Fakhar Zaman c Guptill b Boult 9

Babar Azam not out 101

Mohammad Hafeez c Ferguson b Williamson 32

Haris Sohail run out (Guptill) 68

Sarfaraz Ahmed not out 5

Extras: (7w) 7

TOTAL: (for 4 wickets) 241

Overs: 49.1.

Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-44, 3-110, 4-236.

Did not bat: Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Afridi.

Bowling: Trent Boult 10-0-48-1, Matt Henry 7-0-25-0, Lockie Ferguson 8.1-0-50-1 (4w), Colin de Grandhomme 2-0-12-0, Mitchell Santner 10-0-38-0, Jimmy Neesham 3-0-20-0 (1w), Kane Williamson 8-0-39-1 (1w), Colin Munro 1-0-9-0 (1w).

Toss: New Zealand.

Result: Pakistan won by six wickets.

Umpires: Paul Reiffel and Bruce Oxenford, Australia.

TV Umpire: Paul Wilson, Australia. Match referee: Richie Richardson, West Indies.