Kolkata: Chasing 320 runs with 300 balls is a manageable target in the current era of T20 cricket; however, when it comes to Pakistan, the situation is rarely straightforward. This complexity is heightened by their decision to pursue the target, believing that the evening dew in humid Karachi would provide an advantage. While this strategy seemed sound, the top four batters failed to deliver the necessary performance to make the chase engaging.

This shortcoming was particularly evident during the first Powerplay, where they managed only 22 runs for the loss of two wickets after 10 overs—marking their lowest Powerplay score in six years and the lowest for any home team in ODI history. Consequently, New Zealand only needed to maintain their bowling lines, as the escalating required run rate took its toll.

This performance contrasts sharply with the narrative Pakistan has established as a batting unit, especially as they face a must-win scenario against India on Sunday. Just over a week ago, Pakistan achieved their highest-ever ODI chase in Karachi, successfully chasing down South Africa’s total of 352/5 with an over to spare. In that match, despite losing two wickets in the first Powerplay, they still managed to score 91 runs.

A significant factor in this recent struggle was the absence of opener Fakhar Zaman, who had to bat at No. 4 on Wednesday due to an injury concern that kept him off the field for an extended period.

Moreover, Mohammad Rizwan's retreat to a mere 3 runs off 14 balls, following his unbeaten 122 in that record chase, highlights a concerning mindset issue at a time when Pakistan desperately needed contributions from their top order to remain competitive in the match.

New Zealand's ability to effectively control the game was concerning, as they managed to limit Rizwan's scoring opportunities with relative ease. At that critical moment, maintaining the flow of runs by rotating the strike, as demonstrated by Will Young earlier, was essential; however, Pakistan failed to explore this strategy.

“We must improve our ability to rotate the strike, as it is vital for building an innings,” stated Salman Agha, the sole batsman who appeared capable of challenging New Zealand, following Pakistan's 60-run loss. “To be recognized among the elite teams, we require consistency. We cannot afford to alternate between a strong performance and a weak one. When pursuing a target of 320, establishing a significant partnership early on is crucial. Unfortunately, that did not occur, and we lost wickets consistently. Our Powerplay performance was subpar. We needed to generate momentum at some point, as chasing such a total becomes exceedingly difficult without it.”

Additionally, the high number of dot balls hindered their progress. With a total of 162 dot balls, the required run rate effectively doubled, and Pakistan could only hold themselves accountable for this, reaching their 100th dot ball by the 23.2 over mark.

“We anticipated a score of around 270 to 280, or at most 300 runs, as the pitch was conducive to chasing approximately 300 runs with a solid start. However, our batting did not commence well, which hindered our ability to build momentum and ultimately score runs,” Agha explained.

Babar Azam played a crucial role in the chase, striving to maintain hope until the 33rd over, despite a significant drop in his strike rate.

“When pursuing a target of 320, forming partnerships is essential, and momentum is necessary for that. Unfortunately, it did not materialize, and we kept losing wickets,” Agha remarked.

Pakistan's collapse, particularly due to Zaman's absence (who has now been ruled out of the Champions Trophy, with Imam-ul-Haq named as his replacement), presents a vulnerability that India will likely seek to exploit on Sunday. In an era that emphasizes batting flexibility and a bold approach during fielding restrictions, Pakistan's strategy appeared alarmingly disorganized.

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