FAKHAR Zaman bludgeoned a 63-ball century as Pakistan handed New Zealand their fourth successive loss after a rain-hit Cricket World Cup game yesterday decided by the DLS method.

Zaman’s unbeaten 126 off 71 balls motored Pakistan to 200 for one in 25.3 overs, 21 runs ahead on DLS, after there had been two rain interruptions in a high-scoring match.

New Zealand’s star of the tournament, Rachin Ravindra (108), had earlier smashed his third century in the competition, while Kane Williamson (95) missed out on a hundred on his return as his side amassed 401 for six after being put in to bat.

“This is one of my best (centuries),” said Zaman after smashing Pakistan’s fastest-ever ton in a World Cup. “We know that every game is do-or-die for us. In team meetings, our management decided that we will play aggressively so we are playing with that in mind and everybody was trying to score more runs.”

The win lifted Pakistan level on eight points with New Zealand, who occupy fourth place in the standings by virtue of a better net run-rate than Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Pakistan, who also lost four games in a row at one stage, could sneak into the semi-finals with their last league game scheduled against England on November 11.

New Zealand began the tournament with four consecutive wins against England, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and the Netherlands, but have now lost to India, Australia, South Africa and Pakistan in a shocking turnaround of form.

The Black Caps need to beat Sri Lanka in their last league game and hope Pakistan lose to England, or cannot come close to their net run-rate.

Zaman’s power-hitting kept his side in the hunt in a steep run chase before rain took the players off the field with Pakistan cruising on 160 for one in 21.3 overs, ahead by ten runs on DLS.

Captain Babar Azam (66 not out) played second fiddle to Zaman, who smashed 11 sixes against pace and spin as the pair stretched their match-winning stand to 194 before the rain returned.

Zaman was ruthless against leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, playing his first game of the tournament. He and Babar plundered three sixes in Sodhi’s penultimate over, which ultimately proved vital.

“We just planned to build a partnership. I wanted to give the strike to Fakhar,” said Babar after scoring his third half-century in eight World Cup games. “We knew we had short boundaries and we tried to utilise it.”

Earlier, Ravindra and Williamson took on Pakistan’s four-pronged pace attack led by the expensive Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, and also didn’t spare the two part-time spinners.

Afridi, who recently rose to No. 1 in the ODI rankings, recorded Pakistan’s worst-ever bowling figures of zero for 90 in a World Cup. Rauf was not far behind, ending up with one for 85. Hasan Ali (one for 82), who came into the side in place of leg-spinner Usama Mir, also went for plenty.

Ravindra combined with Williamson for a 180-run partnership off 142 balls.

Both batters fell in successive overs, looking for big hits, but New Zealand’s middle-order kept on pushing with Glenn Phillips (41), Mark Chapman (39) and Daryl Mitchell (29) scoring at a rapid pace before Mitchell Santner’s 17-ball 26 not out led the team past 400.

“Quite hard to get our heads around this after getting that total,” said Williamson, back leading the side after fracturing his thumb against Bangladesh. “They (Pakistan) played exceptionally well, gave themselves every chance and got over the line…Zaman played beautifully (and) they deserved that result today.”