Sports

Pakistan crush New Zealand by 102 runs to become No. 1 ODI team

Published

3 years ago

2023/05/6

Priyan

Babar Azam celebrates after bringing up his 18th ODI hundred (pic PCB)

After a somewhat off-colour performance where Pakistan allowed New Zealand to get close to them, this was back to business for the hosts. A century from Babar Azam – his 18th in ODIs – helped Pakistan post an intimidating 334 for 6 after being put in to bat.

It was then up to the bowlers, who were at their ruthless best, to shut New Zealand out. The game as a contest was over well before the final wicket fell and New Zealand folded for 232, putting Pakistan up 4-0 in the five-match series and at the top of the ICC rankings for ODI teams in the process.

From the moment the chase began, it was apparent that keeping up with the asking rate would be a problem for New Zealand. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Harris Rauf were metronomically accurate and fearsomely fast in the powerplay, and Will Young and Tom Blundell are not natural aggressors. The two fell within two overs of each other after a sedate start.

Both were, to their credit, dismissed seeking boundaries their side desperately needed. Mohammad Wasim struck off his first ball, with Young spooning it high into the night sky for a straightforward catch, before Blundell failed to get elevation on a drive off Rauf, the ball heading straight to Iftikhar Ahmed in the covers.

The period of stagnation through the third-wicket stand that followed, between Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham, was probably what ultimately ended New Zealand’s chances. A total of 83 painstaking runs were scored at a rate under five, but the asking rate had climbed to around 8.50 by then. Usama Mir – who did his World Cup chances no harm with an excellent display deputising for Shadab Khan – drew Mitchell into a stroke that caused his downfall.

The stand between Latham and Mark Chapman, which followed, was New Zealand’s brightest passage, as Chapman dispensed with all conservatism. The two put on 55 in 43 balls with Chapman taking the lead, smashing Iftikhar and Agha Salman out of the attack with 34 in three overs.

But the fast bowlers returned, and Afridi cleaned up Latham yet again for a well-made, if less than explosive, 76-ball 60. Chapman continued to flay the bowling, but a quicker one from Mir saw his stumps knocked back for a 33-ball 46. Thereafter, New Zealand’s resistance melted away. Mir helped himself to a couple more wickets to register career-best figures of 4 for 43, and Pakistan secured a 102-run win.

Earlier, another Babar hundred helped Pakistan to a total that always looked well beyond New Zealand. Across an innings where he also became the quickest player to 5000 ODI runs, the batters – especially Babar and Salman – were in control for the most part on a flat pitch. However, New Zealand, spearheaded by Matt Henry, punctured Pakistan regularly enough to ensure the total wouldn’t completely get out of hand. Some late Mohammad Haris and Afridi fireworks ensured that the platform Pakistan’s middle order had set would lead to a big enough total.

Pakistan rung the changes in after sealing the series already, and Shan Masood – who replaced Imam-ul-Haq – guided Pakistan through the powerplay with characteristic ease after Henry removed Fakhar Zaman early with a similar delivery to the one that got him the previous game, the back-of-a-length ball miscued high into the air.

The innings continued to cruise on autopilot through a 50-run, ten-over stand between Masood and Babar, before sharp work behind the stumps from Blundell saw Masood fall to Ish Sodhi. With Pakistan’s reliance on the top order well-known, the fall of Mohammad Rizwan after a Henry direct-hit caught him short would’ve given Pakistan the wobbles. But in that moment of slight adversity, Salman rose magnificently.

Exquisite with the sweep and reverse sweep, as well as commanding in his use of footwork, Salman cranked through the gears to put New Zealand on the back foot again. With a straight six off Cole McConchie, he brought up a 40-ball half-century as well as the hundred partnership between him and Babar.

Babar had blended into the background but he still eased past 50, as he usually does in ODIs. By the time Henry pouched a stunning return catch to dismiss Salman, Babar was just 12 away from his century, and content to let Iftikhar lead.

Iftikhar assembled an entertaining cameo – 28 off 22 – before Babar tickled one through the off side to bring up his century in 113 balls. When Babar holed out to deep midwicket to give Ben Lister his first wicket on ODI debut, Pakistan had got stuck somewhat, with two overs to go and still not past 300.

Wasim and Shaheen remedied, plundering 38 off the final two overs, also making compelling cases to bat higher up. The four sixes and two fours between them meant they had done enough to break New Zealand’s spirits. In reality, Pakistan’s bowling demonstrated the Afridi-Wasim cameos merely added flourish to what was a near-guaranteed victory anyway.

Brief scores:

Pakistan 334 for 6 (Babar 107, Salman 58, Masood 44, Henry 3-65) beat New Zealand 232 (Latham 60, Chapman 46, Mir 4-43, Wasim 3-40, Rauf 2-37) by 102 runs

(Cricinfo)

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Spinners make it two in two for England

Published

47 mins ago

2026/06/17

Priyan

England's performance with the ball helped them set up the win [Cricbuzz]

England’s spin attack, led by Sophie Ecclestone’s three-wicket haul, secured their second win in as many games as they beat Ireland at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on Tuesday (June 16). Unlike their demolition job over Sri Lanka in the tournament opener, England were made to work hard for these two points as they stuttered in a tricky run chase before prevailing by four wickets.

Already under pressure coming into this fixture on the back of their loss to Scotland, Ireland were asked to bat first. England didn’t take too long to strike as Amy Hunter got castled by Linsey Smith after she attempted to sweep a delivery too early. In the very next over, Gaby Lewis timed a scoop to perfection but hit it straight to the fielder. Ireland continued to crumble inside the Powerplay as it was now Charlie Dean’s turn to strike. After six overs, Ireland were 38/3 with their hopes firmly pinned on Orla Prendergast again to revive them.

While Prendergast continued to bat in fine fashion, Ecclestone came back into the attack to strike and pin Ireland further down. In a bigger blow, the batting side went on to lose the big wicket of Prendergast as she chopped one on to her stumps. At 57/5 after 10 overs, Ireland needed a miracle to storm back into the contest. While Leah Paul and Alice Tector hung in for a while, it was a cameo from Louise Little that actually dragged Ireland beyond 100. Little smashed four boundaries in the final over of the innings after Ecclestone struck twice in the penultimate over.

A target of 119 should have been a cakewalk for a side that posted 219 in their first game. But on this surface, England were made to work hard. Danni Wyatt-Hodge picked up a few boundaries but Aimee Maguire gave Ireland massive hope with her double strike in the fifth over. Both the England openers found Lewis on the field to depart early and in the final over of the Powerplay while Prendergast bowled a third straight over and was rewarded with Alice Capsey’s wicket. England finished the Powerplay with 35/3 – which meant they were on the same boat as Ireland at this stage.

The experienced duo of Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt then got together to put the chase back on track. Sciver-Brunt picked up a boundary each off the next three overs and Knight got going with a sweep behind square that carried England to a strong position at the halfway mark. After 13 overs, England were coasting at 95/3 before Ireland found some hope again. Prendergast came back for her final over and broke the partnership with Knight’s wicket.

With only 9 runs needed, Sciver-Brunt decided to walk back retired out after feeling some tightness in her calf. While the England skipper after the game revealed that it was just a precautionary measure, the fact that it was the same calf that has recently troubled her will concern England going forward. Just three balls after she walked off, England lost the wicket of Danielle Gibson as well to a needless run out which caused unnecessary panic in the dugout. However, Dean hit one over the covers for a vital boundary to calm the nerves down before securing the win in the following over.

scores:
Ireland Women 118/9 in 20 overs (Alana Dalzelle 14, Orla Prendergast 26, Leah Paul 10, Alice Tector 10, Louise Little 26*; Lauren Bell 1-39, Linsey Smith 1-20, Sophie Ecclestone 3-22, Charlie Dean 2-11, Dani Gibson 2-10) lost to England Women 119/6 in 17.3 overs (Dani Wyatt Hodge 16, Nat Sciver-Brunt 48, Heather Knight 26; Aimee Maguire 2-23, Orla Prendergast 2-17) by 4 wickets

[Cricbuzz]

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Messi hat-trick fires holders Argentina to win over Algeria at World Cup

Published

1 hour ago

2026/06/17

Priyan

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their first goal [Aljazeera]

Lionel Messi marked his record sixth World Cup appearance with his first hat-trick at a FIFA tournament as Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 to open the defence of their global crown, he also became the joint highest scorer at World Cups with the feat.

The former 38-year-old forward thought he had opened the scoring in the eighth minute in Kansas City on Tuesday when he slotted home from close range, but the offside flag was raised.

The dream start to his record-setting appearance, which will be matched by Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal against DR Congo on Wednesday, was not to be denied for long though.

A trademark, mazy run was capped by a drive on the edge of the box from that famed left foot. The power too much for Algeria keeper Luca Zidane, son of World Cup winner with France, Zinidine.

Messi doubled his tally on the hour mark with a simple tap in from a rebound off the keeper following a drive from Alexis Mac Allister.

The moment that even a player as decorated as Messi came in the 76th minute when he drilled low past the keeper from just outside the box.

The strike took Messi level with former Germany striker Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals.

His substitution came just three minutes later to a standard ovation, even old maestro seemed disappointed to be removed – and most likely rested for Argentina’s tilt at becoming only the third side to defend a World Cup title.

Algeria – the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations winners – offered little, but were themselves denied an early goal when Fares Chaibi’s ninth minute strike was ruled out for offside.

Messi saw to it that there was no opening game upset to be had tat this edition, having lost their opening game at Qatar 2022 to Saudi Arabia.

Messi, who spent the majority of his club career in Spain with Barcelona before moving to French giants Paris-Saint Germain, plys his trade in US football’s Major League Soccer with Inter Miami.

Jordan and Austria open their account in the group later on Tuesday in San Francisco.

[Aljazeera]

Sports

Iran draw 2-2 with New Zealand in politically charged World Cup match

Published

2 hours ago

2026/06/17

Priyan

The Iran vs New Zealand game ended all square at the Los Angeles Stadium [Aljazeera]

Iran twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with New Zealand in an exciting World Cup clash at Los Angeles Stadium as protests against Tehran’s government and a peace deal signed to end the US-Iran war formed a charged backdrop to the match.

High security presence and protests outside the venue were among the off-field concerns surrounding the match on Monday.

And when New Zealand took an early lead through Elijah Just’s volleyed shot from inside the box, after being set up by Chris Wood, some fans critical of the Iranian government celebrated with New Zealand supporters.

Many of these anti-regime spectators also carried Iran’s pre-Islamic Revolution Lion and Sun flag, against FIFA’s rules. Several also booed Iran’s national anthem before kickoff.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 15: Fans of IR Iran hold up the nations flag before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match between IR Iran and New Zealand at Los Angeles Stadium on June 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Jamie Squire/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by JAMIE SQUIRE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP) — *Fans of IR Iran hold up the nations flag before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match between IR Iran and New Zealand at Los Angeles Stadium on June 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California [Aljazeera]*

But most of the crowd of more than 70,000 appeared firmly behind Team Melli, chanting “Ir-ran! Ir-ran!” and erupting when Ramin Rezaeian equalised shortly after the half-hour mark.

Rezaeian, one of several Iran players who had not played club football since February after the domestic league was suspended amid US and Israeli air strikes, reacted quickest to a blocked shot and poked the ball past the advancing goalkeeper.

Wood and Just combined again early in the second half, the New Zealand captain sliding a precise pass into the 26-year-old forward’s path before Just hammered home to restore the All Whites’ lead.

Iran responded 10 minutes later with a superb goal from Mohammad Mohebbi, who headed Rezaeian’s perfect cross in off the far post to make it 2-2.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 15: Ramin Rezaeian #23 of IR Iran celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match between IR Iran and New Zealand at Los Angeles Stadium on June 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP) — *Ramin Rezaeian celebrates with teammates [Aljazeera]*

The stalemate means all the teams in Group G have one point after Belgium drew 1-1 with Egypt earlier on Monday.

New Zealand, making their third appearance at the tournament, remain without a win at a World Cup after seven matches. Iran are looking to reach the knockout round for the first time.

The match laid bare divisions among Iranian American fans, many of whom said they felt torn between pride at seeing Iran on the sport’s biggest stage, anger over Tehran’s crackdown on protesters and concern over Washington’s bombing campaign.

Before kickoff, about 300 to 500 protesters gathered outside the stadium, waving anti-government signs and flags.

Some Iranian Americans had said attending the match would imply support for Iran’s government, while others said they wanted to set politics aside and support the players.

Iran will next return to Los Angeles to face Belgium on Sunday when New Zealand take on Egypt in Vancouver.

[Aljazeera]