Pak vs NZ: Records tumble as New Zealand batters thrash Pakistani pacers

Shaheen Afridi bowled the most expensive spell in World Cup history as he conceded 90 runs in 10 overs

Faizan Lakhani

Sports Desk

November 04, 2023

New Zealand and Pakistan players return back to the pavilion after the end of the first inning at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, India on November 4, 2023. — Reuters

BENGALURU: Many records were broken Saturday as Pakistan bowlers were thrashed by the Kiwis who scored a towering total of 401 in the 35th match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

The Babar Azam-led side won the toss and chose to bowl first against the Black Caps on Saturday in an important match that would decide the winning team's position in the semi-final.

Highest target by Kiwis

The Black Caps, who were put to bat first, registered a massive target of 402 runs with the loss of six wickets in 50 overs against the Men in Green — their highest total in ODI World Cup history.

New Zealands Rachin Ravindra plays a shot during the 2023 ICC Men´s Cricket World Cup one-day international (ODI) match between New Zealand and Pakistan at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on November 4, 2023. —AFP — New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra plays a shot during the 2023 ICC Men´s Cricket World Cup one-day international (ODI) match between New Zealand and Pakistan at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on November 4, 2023. —AFP

Highest total against Pakistan

On October 10, Sri Lanka scored 344 to record the highest World Cup total by any team against Pakistan but, 10 days later, Australia broke that record by scoring 367 runs, and now, after two weeks New Zealand surpassed Australia's score to post the highest total against Green Shirts.

Most expensive spell

Pakistan's star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, 10-0-90-0, bowled the most expensive spell in World Cup history as he conceded 90 runs in 10 overs.

Haris Rauf had also conceded 85 runs in just 10 overs during the same match. However, Shaheen broke his record.

Haris Rauf (R) gestures as New Zealands Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman (L) run between the wickets during the 2023 ICC Men´s Cricket World Cup one-day international (ODI) match between New Zealand and Pakistan at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on November 4, 2023. —AFP — Haris Rauf (R) gestures as New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman (L) run between the wickets during the 2023 ICC Men´s Cricket World Cup one-day international (ODI) match between New Zealand and Pakistan at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on November 4, 2023. —AFP

Most runs conceded by a Pakistani bowler

Haris Rauf has also conceded the most runs ever by a Pakistani bowler in a single World Cup. He has so far given away 469 runs in eight matches, breaking Wahab Riaz's record when he conceded 400 runs in the previous tournament.

Wicketless Shaheen Afridi

Also, this is the first time that the world's no 1 bowler failed to take a wicket in an ODI after 23 outings.