“Rachin Ravindra, New Zealand’s Star Batsman Shines as Records Tumble in a Thrilling Encounter at Bangalore”
In a riveting showdown at the ODI World Cup 2023, New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra left the cricketing world in awe by crafting a historic century against Pakistan. This remarkable achievement was part of an exhilarating match that saw numerous records shattered, marking an unforgettable chapter in the tournament.
Rachin Ravindra: A Century for the Ages
Rachin Ravindra, a rising star in New Zealand’s cricketing landscape, continued his extraordinary form by delivering a spectacular century in this quadrennial cricketing spectacle. This incredible feat etched his name in the annals of ODI history.
A Triple Century Delight
Rachin Ravindra’s breathtaking performance unfolded during New Zealand’s encounter with Pakistan, as he added to his tally of centuries. This remarkable innings was his third in the tournament, a record-breaking achievement that set him apart as the first New Zealand batter to achieve this milestone in a single edition of the ODI World Cup.
Partnering with Devon Conway
At the crease alongside opener Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra displayed breathtaking cricketing prowess. Together, they forged a partnership that New Zealand will long remember. Ravindra’s strokeplay and audacious shot selection allowed him to amass an astounding 108 runs from just 94 balls.
A Trailblazing World Cup Campaign
Rachin Ravindra’s contributions in this tournament have been nothing short of extraordinary. His journey began as a substitute for the injured Kane Williamson, and he instantly made his presence felt by scoring a century in the opening game against England, accumulating 123 runs in a memorable performance.
Centuries Galore
Rachin Ravindra’s remarkable century against Pakistan was not a standalone achievement. He had previously displayed his batting prowess by securing another century against Australia in Dharamsala, where New Zealand came agonizingly close to chasing down a mammoth target of 390 runs.
Setting New Records
In addition to his centuries, Ravindra showcased his consistency with scores of 51 against Netherlands and 75 against India in other pivotal innings. These performances were a testament to his remarkable abilities as a cricketer.
Dominating with the Bat
Thanks to Rachin Ravindra’s exceptional innings, New Zealand posted a commanding total of 401/6 in their allotted 50 overs, as they aimed to secure a spot in the tournament’s semi-finals. The return of Kane Williamson from injury added further impetus to the Kiwi innings, with Williamson contributing a brilliant 95 runs.
Supporting Cast
Mark Chapman (39 off 27), Glenn Phillips (41 off 25), and Mitchell Santner (26 off 17) provided the necessary momentum towards the end of the innings. For Pakistan, Mohammad Wasim emerged as the pick of the bowlers, claiming three crucial wickets. Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Haris Rauf also made their mark with a wicket each.
Historical Totals and Feats
New Zealand’s total of 401/6 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium marked their second-highest in men’s ODIs, with their highest being 402/2 against Ireland in 2006. Notably, it also became their highest total in the men’s ODI World Cup, surpassing their previous record of 393/6 against West Indies in 2015.
Records Tumble
The match witnessed a unique occurrence as Pakistan conceded a 400-plus total in men’s ODIs, the previous instance being England’s 444/3 at Trent Bridge in 2016. New Zealand’s 401 runs also established a new record for the highest total against Pakistan in the men’s ODI World Cup, eclipsing Australia’s 367/9 earlier in the same tournament.
Fours Galore
The New Zealand batters displayed remarkable aggression by hitting an astonishing 46 fours against Pakistan, breaking the record for the most fours in a men’s ODI World Cup innings. This feat surpassed South Africa’s 45 against Sri Lanka in Delhi and established a new benchmark for New Zealand in terms of boundaries.
Rachin Ravindra: A Record-Breaker
Rachin Ravindra’s achievement of scoring three centuries in a single World Cup is unparalleled, making him the first batter to achieve this feat in their maiden men’s ODI World Cup. Moreover, he became the first player to score three centuries for New Zealand in the men’s ODI World Cups.
Making History
His remarkable 523 runs in this edition of the World Cup before turning 25 surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s record of two, establishing him as the leading run-scorer in this age category.
Bowlers’ Challenge
For Pakistan’s bowlers, it was a challenging day as three bowlers, Shaheen Shah Afridi (90 runs), Hasan Ali (82 runs), and Haris Rauf (85 runs), conceded 80-plus runs, marking only the sixth instance of such an occurrence in a men’s ODI innings.
Expensive Figures
The runs conceded by Afridi and Rauf set a new record as the most expensive figures for Pakistan in the men’s ODI World Cup, adding to the challenges faced by Pakistan’s bowling attack.
Haris Rauf’s Sixes Extravaganza
Haris Rauf’s performance stood out as he conceded 16 sixes in this World Cup across eight matches, establishing a new record for the most sixes conceded by a bowler in a single edition of the men’s ODI World Cup since 1999. This impressive feat surpassed Tinashe Panyangara’s previous record of 15 sixes in the 2015 edition.
Partnership Prowess
Ravindra and Williamson’s 180-run partnership was the second-highest for New Zealand in the men’s ODI World Cup, following their unbeaten 273-run partnership against England in the tournament opener. Additionally, it marked the second-highest partnership against Pakistan in World Cup history.
A Historic Defeat
In a surprising twist, New Zealand’s total of 401/6 marked the second-highest first-innings total in ODIs to end in a defeat. The highest such total was Australia’s 434/4 against South Africa during the 2006 Johannesburg ODI, as the hosts chased down the total with one wicket and one ball to spare.
New Zealand’s Recent Struggles
This victory over New Zealand marked their fourth successive defeat in the men’s ODI World Cup. It was a challenging phase for the team, as they suffered losses to India, Australia, and South Africa in their previous three games, making it the first instance of New Zealand facing four consecutive defeats in the men’s ODI World Cup.
Fakhar Zaman’s Remarkable Century
On the other side of the pitch, Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman made a significant impact by reaching his century in just 63 balls, setting a new record for the fastest century by a Pakistan batter at the men’s ODI World Cup. His unbeaten 81-ball 126 featured 11 sixes, tying the record for the joint-highest number of sixes at the world cup match.