Cricket World Cup warm-up match | Ravindra leads Kiwis’ charge in successful chase of big target

NZ win by 5 wkts. NZ prep for WC w/ 5-wkt win over Pak. Rachin Ravindra (97) & Kane Williamson (54 retd.) starred, while Mohammad Rizwan (103 retd.) & Babar Azam (80) shone for Pak. Santner (2/39) best bowler for NZ.

New Zealand began the preparations for the World Cup in style with a five-wicket win over Pakistan in a warm-up game at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Friday.

Southpaw and opener Rachin Ravindra (97, 72b, 16x4, 1x6) was the surprise packet for the Kiwis, chasing 346 to win, with some brilliant strokes on either side of the wicket. Later, the experienced Kane Williamson, who surprised many with his strokeplay and swift running between the wickets after being earlier ruled out of the World Cup opener, and Daryl Mitchell scored half-centuries before retiring.

In the final overs, the big-hitting Mark Chapman and James Neesham proved too good for the Pakistan bowling attack which was just not equal to the task right through the Kiwi chase.

Earlier, Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan cracked a brilliant century (103 retd., 94b, 9x4, 2x6).

Captain Babar Azam showed his class with a neatly-compiled 80 (84b, 8x4, 2x6) and southpaw Saud Shakeel (75, 53b, 5x4, 4x6) revelled with some extravagant strokes.

For the Kiwis, Santner (2/39) was the pick of the bowlers.