What a chase that was from Pakistan. They did not look nervy for one moment, not when they lost Fakhar easrly, not when Imam was bounced out, and certainly not when Hafeez slogged needlessly. They found the batsmen to come in and stabilise and all through that, Babar Azam stood like a rock.
He walked in at the fall of Fakhar's wicket and looked confident straight away. Kept hitting everything off the middle and built important partnerships with Hafeez and Imam initially. Haris Sohail then joined him at the crease and continued his fine form with a second consecutive fifty, though he could not see off the game, he was run out with Pakistan needing 2 to win. Fittingly, it was the captain, Sarfaraz Ahmed, who hit the winning runs.
Pakistan were only troubled in a small phase where Mitchell Santner was gripping and turning the ball almost square. Haris and Babar saw him out, and once they were set, went for their shots, most of which were chanceless and classy. Babar's century was Pakistan's first in a WC by a middle order batsman since 1987, and it was the best occasion to bring it up. He kept Pakistan's semi-final hopes alive.
New Zealand tasted defeat for the first time, and will look to change a few things, maybe get in Henry Nicholls or Tim Southee for the next game, to get a little more confidence to the batting and bowling. It has been great to get you the live updates, do join us tomorrow when India take on West Indies, in what will be a hotly anticipated clash. See you!
Maybe the skipper will hit the winning runs, he has to with this being the last over
49.1 Ferguson to Sarfaraz, FOUR, it's all over! Indeed he does, puts this full toss away to deep point
Matt Henry is back.
48.1 Henry to Azam, 1 run, short and pulled to deep square leg
48.2 Henry to Haris, 1 run, tucks this length ball to deep backward square
48.3 Henry to Azam, OUT, run out check sent upstairs. Babar jammed the yorker beside him, Haris runs through, Guptill flies in from backward point, takes the ball in hand and breaks the stumps with it
Haris run out(Guptill) 68(76)
Captain walks out to the middle, fittingly to hit the winning runs
48.4 Henry to Sarfaraz, DOT, steers the length ball to backward point
48.5 Henry to Sarfaraz, 1 run, maybe he will not hit the winning runs. Turns this towards square leg to give Babar strike
48.6 Henry to Azam, DOT.
47.1 Ferguson to Haris, FOUR, length on the stumps, he backed away and played with an open face past backward point to the boundary
47.2 Ferguson to Haris, 1 run, driven to mid off and brings Babar back on strike
47.3 Ferguson to Azam, 1 run, gets the hundred! What a brilliant innings, had two fifties before this and finally made the big one. It was short and wide, he cut through point for one. Hekneels down and plants the forehead on the ground. It was a tough wicket, and he has delivered a masterclass on how to bat on such wickets
47.4 Ferguson to Haris, DOT, short on the body, looks to tuck, gets the top edge onto his grille
47.5 Ferguson to Haris, WIDE, dug into the pitch, too short for Haris Sohail
47.5 Ferguson to Haris, 2 runs, full toss from over the wicket, played with one hand to deep cover, well done in the deep
47.6 Ferguson to Haris, DOT.