Highlights, New Zealand vs Pakistan, 2019 World Cup: Ton-up Babar, pacers power Pakistan to 6-wicket win over Kiwis
Highlights, 2019 World Cup, New Zealand vs Pakistan: Hello and welcome to our coverage of Match 33 of ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between New Zealand and Pakistan live from Edgbaston, Birmingham. New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan in a World Cup match here Wednesday. The start of the match was delayed by an hour because of wet ground condition but no overs were lost. New Zealand have named an unchanged side for the fifth game in a row, while Pakistan too have gone with the same eleven that won against South Africa. Here you can follow all the updates and scores of the NZ vs PAK match from Edgbaston. (Scorecard |stream NZ vs PAK)
Pakistan beat New Zealand by 6 wickets
23.56 IST: Lockie Ferguson to Sarfaraz Ahmed, PAKISTAN WIN BY 6 WICKETS! Full toss outside off, Sarfaraz gets bat on ball and puts it away through the gap between cover-point and point for the winning runs.
* Sarfaraz Ahmed comes out for the finishing duties.
23.50 IST: Matt Henry to Babar Azam, OUT! Haris Sohail run out (Martin Guptill). Pakistan have lost their fourth wicket.
23.46 IST: Lockie Ferguson to Haris Sohail, A low full toss outside off, Sohail pumps it over the infield and gets a couple as the sweeper cover fielder cuts it off near the fence.
23.43 IST: Lockie Ferguson to Babar Azam, Hundred for Babar Azam, his 10th in ODIs, first in the ODI World Cup! What a batsman, what a terrific batsman! A real find for Pakistan. Becomes the first Pakistan batsman since 1987 to score a century without opening the innings. He reaches this milestone by slapping a short delivery to deep cover. Completes his single and then takes his helmet out. Raises his bat and acknowledges the crowd. Follows it up with a Sajda.
23.42 IST: Lockie Ferguson to Haris Sohail, FOUR! Beautiful timing and placement! Back of a length delivery outside off, Haris crunches it off his back foot and places it through backward point. The third man fielder tries to run across to make the stop but he slipped.
23.37 IST: Lockie Ferguson to Babar Azam, FOUR! Moves to 99 with this boundary! Ferguson tries to test the right-hander with a short ball, Babar rides the bounce and plays a hammer-pull to deep mid-wicket. 9 from the over, Pakistan 14 away!
23.33 IST: Lockie Ferguson to Haris Sohail, Excellent yorker around leg, Sohail moves back to dig it out on the off side and calls his partner through for a run.
23.31 IST: Trent Boult to Haris Sohail, FOUR! Easily done! A length delivery outside off, Haris knows that mid off is inside the circle and hence chips it over the head of the in-ring fielder for a boundary. 8 from the over, 23 more needed in the last 5 overs.
23.28 IST: Trent Boult to Haris Sohail, Fifty for Haris Sohail, his 12th in ODIs and back-to-back in this World Cup. He was warming the bench before that and has grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Short in length and outside off, Sohail cracks it off his back foot through point. A good diving stop in the deep and the batsmen take two.
23.26 IST: Mitchell Santner to Babar Azam, Short ball on middle, Babar pulls it to the right of mid-wicket who dives but only manages to get his hand on the ball. It travels behind and the batsmen take a couple.
* Mitchell Santner to bowl out...
23.22 IST: Trent Boult to Babar Azam, Superb fielding by Munro! A length ball outside off, Babar crashes it through covers and it speeds away towards the fence. Munro in the deep makes a fine diving stop to save two runs for his side.
23.17 IST: Mitchell Santner to Babar Azam, FOUR! Babar wants to finish it in a hurry! Once again he kneels to a full ball and sweeps it against the spin. Gets it away from the middle of his blade and the ball screams away to the fence at mid-wicket.
23.15 IST: Mitchell Santner to Babar Azam, FOUR! Fine shot! Santner delivers a full ball around off, Babar goes down on one knee and plays a well-timed slog sweep. Finds the gap and also finds the fence at mid-wicket.
* Powerplay 3 begins. 55 needed off 60 balls now. New Zealand now have the option of having a maximum of 5 fielders outside the ring. Trent Boult is back on as well...
23.03 IST: Kane Williamson to Haris Sohail, FOUR! A good over till now gets spoiled. A flighted delivery on off, too full in length, Haris leans into the drive and thumps it through the gap at covers for a boundary. 34 in the last 4 overs!
23.01 IST: Trent Boult to Haris Sohail, SIX! Straight over the bowler's head, no respect whatsoever. Boult lands it on a length outside off, Sohail stays leg side of this delivery and hammers it over Boult for a biggie.
*Trent Boult replaces Colin Munro
22.56 IST: Kane Williamson to Babar Azam, FOUR! Consecutive boundaries. Brilliant batting from Babar. Last shot prompted the bowler to go short, Azam picks it early, again uses his feet, this time to go deep inside the crease and then pulls it handsomely behind square leg. 50-run stand comes up as well and Pakistan are motoring in this run chase
22.55 IST: Kane Williamson to Babar Azam, FOUR! Wonderful shot by Babar. He takes the calculative risk of coming down the track and then lofts the fuller length ball over mid off. No one in the deep and it's a boundary.
22.51 IST: Colin Munro to Babar Azam, FOUR! 150 up for Pakistan! Driven through the covers. Cleverly finds the gap and hits it with power. A boundary after what seemed like an eternity of wait.
*Colin Munro replaces Lockie Ferguson.
22.50 IST: Kane Williamson to Haris Sohail, 1 run. Williamson is keeping it tight from the other end. The pitch is aiding him, and both the batsmen are finding it tough to pick him on.
22.36 IST: Lockie Ferguson to Babar Azam, 2 runs. Pakistan are dealing in singles and doubles here. No risk taking, especially from Babar.
*Lockie Ferguson replaces Mitchell Santner.
22.29 IST: Mitchell Santner to Haris Sohail, SIX! Up, up and away! That is the way to play a spinner. Full and outside off, Sohail comes down the track, gets to the pitch of the ball and sends it sailing over long on!
22.25 IST: Kane Williamson to Haris Sohail, FOUR! Nicely played. With Williamson, a part-timer, you will get the odd drag-down. Short and outside off, Sohail goes back and runs it down past slip to third man!
22.20 IST: Kane Williamson to Babar Azam, 1 run. 50 for Babar!
22.15 IST: Mitchell Santner to Babar Azam, In the air...but safe. Short on the pads, Babar looks to pick but gets a top edge. Luckily for Azam it falls in no man's land at square leg. The batsmen take one.
* Haris Sohail is the next batsman in.
22.11 IST: Kane Williamson to Mohammad Hafeez, OUT! New Zealand skipper, Kane Williamson has done the job not with the bat but with the ball here.
* Surprise, surprise Kane Williamson into attack
22.05 IST: Jimmy Neesham to Mohammad Hafeez, FOUR! End of an expensive Neesham over. 13 runs off the over. Fuller on off, Hafeez opens the face of the bat in the last moment and it goes fine down the third man region for a boundary.
22.02 IST: Jimmy Neesham to Babar Azam, FOUR! Pulled with venom! Back of a length ball on off. At Neesham's pace it is an easy picking for Babar. He pulls it with power through mid-wicket for a boundary.
21.54 IST: Jimmy Neesham to Babar Azam, Back of a length ball outside off, Babar pulls it but not off the middle. It goes to the right of short mid-wicket. Taylor dives and saves runs for his side.
21.52 IST: Mitchell Santner to Mohammad Hafeez, Away spinner outside off, Hafeez looks to cut but misses.
21.49 IST: Jimmy Neesham to Babar Azam, FOUR! Poor end to an otherwise tight over. Neesham is guilty of giving width outside off, Babar pounces on it and cuts it wide of diving point fielder for a boundary.
* The man with the bat now has the ball in hand. Jimmy Neesham is introduced into the attack.
21.42 IST: Mitchell Santner to Babar Azam, Short on off, Azam punches it to long off and gets a single. 3000 runs in ODI for Babar Azar comes up with that single.
* DRINKS! Pakistan have lost two wickets but Hafeez and Babar are looking good out in the middle. Pakistan need another 167 off 34 overs. A solid partnership will take them through. New Zealand need to pick wickets here as that's the only way they can win this game.
21.30 IST: Colin de Grandhomme to Mohammad Hafeez, FOUR! Poor, poor ball this from de Grandhomme.
21.27 IST: Lockie Ferguson to Mohammad Hafeez, FOUR. Calm and controlled pull! Short around the body, Hafeez keeps his pull down through square leg for a boundary.
21.25 IST: Lockie Ferguson to Mohammad Hafeez, FOUR! Back of a length ball outside off. Hafeez was waiting for that ball. He stands tall and punches it through cover-point for a boundary.
21.21 IST: Colin de Grandhomme to Babar Azam, Outside off on a length, Azam punches it wide of sweeper cover. Neesham there runs to his right and stops the ball with a dive. Babar in the mean time comes back for the second.
* The second star with the bat is onto bowl now. Colin de Grandhomme is into the attack.
21.17 IST: Lockie Ferguson to Mohammad Hafeez, FOUR! Smart and confident shot this! Back of a length ball on off, Hafeez sees there is no one in the deep at square leg so he goes with the pull and fetches himself a boundary.
* There is a slight delay here. Seems like there is an issue with the sightscreen. Don't exactly know what's the cause of the problem. The groundsmen are taking off the cover which is kept on the sightscreen. The issue behind the sightscreen is the cloth has not covered the backside, making the stairs behind visible to the batter.
21.08 IST: Matt Henry to Mohammad Hafeez, On middle and leg, Hafeez flicks it but to the fielder at short mid-wicket.
21.05 IST: Lockie Ferguson to Mohammad Hafeez, OHH! Another brilliant short ball. It is around the body, Hafeez looks to guides it down to third man but the ball hits him on the gloves.
* Mohammad Hafeez is the new man in.
21.02 IST: Lockie Ferguson to Imam-ul-Haq, OUT! What a catch! Guptill is making up for his failure in the bat with some excellent fielding here. Ferguson hits the deck hard and bowls an effort ball. Imam hops and looks to keep it down but the ball rises onto him.
20.59 IST: Matt Henry to Imam-ul-Haq, Fuller on off, Imam looks to defend but ends up poking it uppishly. Luckily for him it is wide of mid off.
20.55 IST: Trent Boult to Babar Azam, FOUR! Crunched!
20.54 IST: Trent Boult to Babar Azam, FOUR! Glorious! The peach of a ball is followed by a handsome cover drive. Good length ball outside off, Babar drives it off the meat of the bat through covers for a boundary.
20.51 IST: Matt Henry to Babar Azam, Henry hits the deck hard on off, Azam defends it towards point and calls a loud no.
20.48 IST: Trent Boult to Imam-ul-Haq, Well played. Good length ball on off, Imam taps it back to the bowler with a straight bat.
20.44 IST: Matt Henry to Babar Azam, Glorious shot. Good length ball outside off, Babar drives it through covers. Santner gives it a chase and pulls it back before the ropes. He passes it back to Neesham who throws. The batsmen meanwhile come back for the third.
20.37 IST: Trent Boult to Imam-ul-Haq, FOUR! Once again this ball moves away from Imam. It is on a length and just outside off, Imam looks to run it down but the ball goes off the outside edge and wide of first slip for a boundary.
20.35 IST: Matt Henry to Babar Azam, Fuller this time on the pads, Babar flicks it but finds the fielder at short mid-wicket.
* Babar Azam walks out at number 3.
20.31 IST: Trent Boult to Fakhar Zaman, OUT! The over started in Fakhar's favour but it ends in favour of Boult. Good length ball on the pads, it moves away from the batter. Fakhar looks to flick against the movement but ends up getting a big leading edge. The ball goes high in the air towards point. For a moment it looks like it will fall in no man's land but Guptill keeps his eye on the ball and takes a good catch.
20.28 IST: Trent Boult to Fakhar Zaman, FOUR! Creamed! Fuller on off, Fakhar picks it up early and drives it through covers for a masterful boundary.
20.25 IST: Matt Henry to Imam-ul-Haq, FOUR! GLORIOUS! A beautiful straight drive for Imam. Good start from Pakistan.
20.25 IST: Matt Henry to Fakhar Zaman, FOUR! Full-toss, outside off, and punished! That's a brutal hit towards covers from Fakhar. Like Imam, he too gets off the mark with a four.
20.23 IST: Trent Boult to Imam-ul-Haq, FOUR! Could've been a maiden, but that was a brilliant pull from Imam! Boult tried to keep it short and on to the body, but the batsman anticipated it well. Dispatches it with confidence towards the midwicket boundary.
20.17 IST: The players are out for the second innings. Pakistan need 238 to win in 50 overs.
* Wow. Simply wow. The Kiwis are always known for their never-say-die-spirit. They have shown it today again. From a position where they were struggling to touch even 150, they have crossed 200.
19.49 IST: Wahab Riaz to Jimmy Neesham, SIX! THRASH! What a way to end the innings! Neesham has given the Black Caps a realistic possibility of entering the semis today itself. NEW ZEALAND FINISH ON 237/6!
19.47 IST: Wahab Riaz to Jimmy Neesham, Another full, toss, this is worked through mid-wicket for a well-run couple. Riaz is not happy with the fielder on that occasion.
19.42 IST: Mohammed Amir to Mitchell Santner, DOUBLE! The left-hander glides it down in the fine leg and takes a quick brace.
* Mitchell Santner comes in at number 8, replacing de Grandhomme.
19.38 IST: Wahab Riaz to Colin de Grandhomme, OUT run out (Mohammad Amir). New Zealand have lost their sixth wicket.
19.37 IST: Wahab Riaz to Jimmy Neesham, FOUR! TAKE THAT! Good effort in the deep but this was hit with disdain.
19.35 IST: Mohammad Amir to Colin de Grandhomme, FOUR! Big over for New Zealand.
19.32 IST: Mohammad Amir to Colin de Grandhomme, FOUR! This is brute power. Every second ball is a slower one and both batsmen are picking the variation with ease.
19.28 IST: Mohammad Amir to Jimmy Neesham, SIX! SPANKED! This was one in the slot again. Full and outside off, Neesham gets down on a knee and slog sweeps it massively over mid-wicket!
19.26 IST: Wahab Riaz to Colin de Grandhomme, That is a terrific yorker, on middle, de Grandhomme slips but manages to work it through mid-wicket for a single.
19.23 IST: Mohammad Amir to Jimmy Neesham, FOUR! Full on middle, flicked through mid-wicket for a boundary!
19.18 IST: Shaheen Afridi to Jimmy Neesham, NOT OUT. Quote unquote, Ian Smith - 'These days bizarre things happen in cricket. And this was very bizarre.' What had happened was - it was a full ball outside off. A yorker, to be precise. Neesham looked to drive but missed. Sarfaraz appealed but it was turned down. Now, he wanted the umpires to have it checked, so the two men in red shirts got together. They had a chat and then referred it upstairs. Replays show that the ball did not touch the bat and NOT OUT was flashed on the giant screen. Now, here came the drama.
* Bizarre. What looked like a bump ball or a missed yorker at best, has been reviewed for a caught behind. Not a team review but the umpire's review. The SOFT SIGNAL IS NOT OUT.
19.11 IST: Mohammad Amir to Colin de Grandhomme, FOUR! SMOKED! That was the line and length he was waiting for. Full and right in the slot, outside off, de Grandhomme lofts it over mid off. One bounce and into the fence.
* Mohammad Amir returns. 6-0-32-1 so far.
19.05 IST: Shaheen Afridi to Jimmy Neesham, FOUR! Bad bowling. This is on the pads, Neesham flicks it through mid-wicket for a boundary.
* POWERPLAY 3 time. Five fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle till the end. Shadab Khan returns to bowl out. 9-0-40-1 so far.
18.58 IST: Shaheen Afridi to Jimmy Neesham, 6TH ODI HALF CENTURY FOR NEESHAM! His first in this World Cup and the most important one for him. Trying to wade his ship through troubled waters. Gets there by steering this length ball through third man for a run.
18.54 IST: Wahab Riaz to Colin de Grandhomme, FOUR! Off the top edge! The game is seemingly going away from Pakistan. A short ball, around middle, de Grandhomme looks to pull but gets a top edge which goes over the keeper to the fine leg fence!
*Wahab Riaz replaces Shadab Khan.
18.39 IST: Mohammad Amir to Jimmy Neesham, FOUR! Bad ball. Too short from Amir, and Neesham pulls it brilliantly towards midwicket. Into the 40s now, Neesham.
*Mohammad Amir replaces Imad Wasim.
18.35 IST: Shadab Khan to Colin de Grandhomme, SIX! De Grandhomme is done with the waiting game here.
18.33 IST: Imad Wasim to Jimmy Neesham, FOUR! Up and over! Tossed up around off, Neesham takes the risk and goes over cover. He gets enough bat on it and the ball goes over cover and to the fence for a boundary.
18.30 IST: Shadab Khan to Colin de Grandhomme, FOUR! OUTSIDE-EDGE! Goes for a cover drive but a thick outside-edge drifts the ball away from the slip,
18.29 IST: Shadab Khan to Jimmy Neesham, SIX! Poor delivery there. Pitches it a bit too full and Neesham takes the aerial route, dispatching it over the long-off boundary.
18.17 IST: Shadab Khan to Jimmy Neesham, Once again Neesham flicks it to the on side and gets to the other end.
18.15 IST: Wahab Riaz to Colin de Grandhomme, NOT OUT! De Grandhomme survives. Back of a length ball on off, shooting off the surface, de Grandhomme tries to fend it off and pushes the ball out to point. He is called for a run and Colin responds.
18.14 IST: Wahab Riaz to Colin de Grandhomme, FOUR! This one is much better from the batsman. Wahab delivers it full and on middle, de Grandhomme brings down a straight blade and drives it off the inner half past the bowler. Good timing and it speeds away to the fence towards long on.
18.11 IST: Shadab Khan to Jimmy Neesham, Flighted and full on off, Neesham is on the front foot as he flicks it to mid-wicket.
18.07 IST: Wahab Riaz to Jimmy Neesham, Shout for a caught behind! Not given. Brilliant delivery, on a good length outside off and straightening a bit, Neesham has a tame push inside the line and misses. Sarfaraz collects the ball, appeals vociferously, Wahab joins him after, Sohail at first slip refused to join the appeal.
18.03 IST: Shadab Khan to Jimmy Neesham, Tossed up ball on middle, Neesham goes back and works it on the leg side. End of a successful over by Shadab!
18.02 IST: Shadab Khan to Kane Williamson, OUT! A magical delivery by Shadab to remove the best Kiwi batsman. You need something special to dismiss the batsman of his class.
17.55 IST: Wahab Riaz to Jimmy Neesham, Shortish and on off at 141 kph, Neesham goes on the back foot and guides it to third man for a single.
17.53 IST: Shadab Khan to Jimmy Neesham, Charges down the track to a full ball and flicks it with the spin past the mid-wicket fielder inside the ring. A single to end the over.
17.48 IST: Wahab Riaz to Kane Williamson, Identical to the last delivery, once again a watchful Williamson leaves it alone. The Kiwi skipper played and missed quite a few deliveries in Wahab's previous over.
17.46 IST: Shadab Khan to Kane Williamson, Goes on the back foot to a short ball and hits it with the spin to cover-point. Crosses for a brisk run.
17.42 IST: Wahab Riaz to Kane Williamson, EDGY FOUR! Almost a drag on for Kane. Wahab puts it on a length around off, Williamson is on the back foot trying to force it through the off side but it takes the inside edge and runs closely past the stumps to fine leg. The fielder in the deep tries his best but fails to cut it off.
17.38 IST: Shadab Khan to Kane Williamson, Once again Williamson is on the front foot and then pushes it gently to the right of the point fielder. He makes a diving stop but cannot prevent the single.
17.36 IST: Mohammad Hafeez to Kane Williamson, Fuller and on off, Williamson wrists it down through mid on for one.
17.30 IST: Mohammad Hafeez to Jimmy Neesham, In the air. Neesham played it in the air without any connection but it went to the no man's land area.
17.28 IST: Shaheen Afridi to Kane Williamson, Excellent over from the young man as he gave away only two from it as the ball is doing his thing.
17.22 IST: Mohammad Hafeez to Kane Williamson, Too full in length on off, Kane drives it back to the bowler. Pakistan are doing a great job here to maintain all the pressure on New Zealand. Not giving anything easy.
17.18 IST: Shaheen Afridi to Jimmy Neesham, Beaten on the drive this time! Shaheen is bowling beautifully here. Serves it on a fuller length and gets it to move away just a bit. Neesham attempts to stroke it through covers but misses.
17.13 IST: Mohammad Hafeez to Kane Williamson, Full and flighted on off, Williamson strides forward and jams it down near the surface.
* Drinks Break! Well, well, well, Pakistan are all over New Zealand here. Shaheen Afridi is bowling absolute venom out there and has got 2 wickets already in this innings. New Zealand are in deep waters here. Kane Williamson is still out in the middle but no one has supported him and he is in desperate need of a partner to steady this sinking ship.
17.09 IST: Shaheen Afridi to Tom Latham, OUT! Shaheen strikes again and New Zealand are reduced to 46/4! This young fast bowler is oozing class at the moment. Delivers a length ball just around off and gets it to straighten a hint off the seam.
17.03 IST: Mohammad Hafeez to Kane Williamson, Goes on the back foot to a shortish ball and punches it through covers for a run.
16.59 IST: Shaheen Afridi to Tom Latham, Another delivery in the channel of uncertainty, Latham takes his front leg forward to cover his stumps and then makes a leave.
16.52 IST: Imad Wasim to Tom Latham, Tossed up ball outside off, turning back in a bit, Latham leaves it alone and Sarfaraz fumbles while collecting.
* Tom Latham is the new man in. He has not had a good World Cup so far. New Zealand need him to find his form back and support his skipper. Is this the game, Latham announces his arrival in this World Cup? Also, Imad Wasim is into the attack.
16.50 IST: Shaheen Afridi to Ross Taylor, OUT! Sarfaraz has taken a stunner! So much of talk regarding his fitness and he has replied here with a ripper! Beauty of a delivery to begin with. Shaheen dishes out an outswinger on middle and off, it's on a good length and Taylor decides to defend it from the back foot. But the away movement means that the ball kisses the outside edge of his bat and Sarfaraz dives full length across to his right and takes a one-handed beauty. One of the best catches in this edition surely. A big blow to New Zealand as Taylor departs.
16.45 IST: Shaheen Afridi to Ross Taylor, Fuller and outside off, Taylor drives it off the front foot and finds the gap at covers. The batsmen takes three.
16.42 IST: Mohammad Amir to Kane Williamson, FOUR! Class of this batsman is next level! Amir lands it full and outside off, Williamson leans into the drive and just times his cover drive to perfection.
16.41 IST: Mohammad Amir to Kane Williamson, FOUR! Class of this batsman is next level! Amir lands it full and outside off, Williamson leans into the drive and just times his cover drive to perfection.
16.39 IST: Shaheen Afridi to Ross Taylor, Fullish and on off, Ross is on the front foot as he defends it with gentle hands to mid off.
* Ross Taylor arrives early. Once again his side is in some trouble and he will have to stitch in a partnership with his skipper.
16.36 IST: Shaheen Afridi to Colin Munro, OUT! Edged and gone! Shaheen sprints and jumps in delight! A nice delivery by him. He lands it on a length outside off, getting it to shape away just a bit, seeing the width on offer, Munro throws his bat at it but gets an outside edge behind. Haris Sohail at first slip makes no mistake.
16.31 IST: Mohammad Amir to Kane Williamson, Angling away from Williamson, it's around off. He tries to dab it down towards third man but there is a gully in place to make the stop.
16.27 IST: Shaheen Afridi to Kane Williamson, FOUR! Wrong line and length.
* There is some sightscreen issue at the moment and hence the delay. This is taking a lot of time for the groundsmen to fix.
* The experiment with Mohammad Hafeez is over! Shaheen Afridi is now inserted into the attack.
16.17 IST: Mohammad Amir to Colin Munro, FOUR! Action replay of the previous boundary. Once again Amir is on the shorter side outside off, Munro remains on the back foot and whacks it past the diving point fielder for a boundary.
16.15 IST: Mohammad Amir to Colin Munro, FOUR! Right from the middle of the bat this time. Back of a length ball just outside off, Colin Munro camps back and hammers it square of the wicket on the off side for a cracking boundary. This shot will give him some confidence.
16.11 IST: Mohammad Hafeez to Kane Williamson, Hafeez is bowling with a short leg now. Serves a flighted ball on middle, Williamson flicks it with the spin to wide mid on.
16.07 IST: Mohammad Amir to Kane Williamson, Beauty of a delivery! Another outswinger by Amir. This time the line is on middle and off. Williamson tries to defend from the crease but it beats the outside edge.
* Kane Williamson is the new batsman in.
16.04 IST: Mohammad Amir to Martin Guptill, OUT! Guptill drags it on! Amir is flying in celebration. What a start for him and Pakistan! He delivers it full and outside off, tempts the batsman to have a go, Guptill obliges and attempts to drive but ends up inside edging it onto the stumps. The crowd erupts in joy. Another early departure for Guptill.
16.00 IST: Mohammad Hafeez to Martin Guptill, FOUR! What a start this is for New Zealand! Hafeez tosses it up on middle and leg, Guptill picks it up early and sweeps it away towards backward square leg for a boundary.
* We are all set to begin. The New Zealand opening duo of Colin Munro and Martin Guptill stride out to the middle. The Pakistan players follow them out and are taking their respective position in the field.
* We are minutes away from getting underway! The players from both teams are out in the centre for their respective national anthems. Once again a big crowd has come to support the Asian team. The conditions are overcast at the moment and the artificial lights are switched on. The fast bowlers will certainly get some assistance early on but they will have to bowl testing lengths, unlike England yesterday.
15.34 IST: Pakistan (Playing XI): Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Haris Sohail, Sarfaraz Ahmed(w/c), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Afridi
New Zealand (Playing XI): Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham(w), James Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult
15.30 IST: New Zealand win toss, opt to bat against Pakistan in Birmingham
15.26 IST: The toss will take place at 03:30 PM IST.
14.40 IST: It has drizzling in the morning and although it has stopped, the ground is still under the cover. There are a few damp areas on the field and the groundsmen are at work. Next inspection will be at 3.00 PM IST
14.32 IST: TOSS -- Toss has been delayed due to a wet outfield
Brief preview: The New Zealanders are doing it again. Often the quiet achiever at World Cups, New Zealand can secure its eighth semifinal spot with a win against Pakistan at Edgbaston on Wednesday. The unbeaten Black Caps have 11 points from six games; seventh-place Pakistan has five points with an outside chance of advancing. The two teams have history at the World Cup. Pakistan is hoping for a repeat of 1992 when it endured a poor start, before going on to win the title after beating New Zealand in the semifinals with its future prime minister, Imran Khan, hitting 44. [Read full preview here]
