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Stephen Fleming’s New Zealand became the first team to reach the semifinals of the ICC Champions Trophy with a 51-run win over Pakistan here on Wednesday.

The Black Caps, playing their 500th one-day International (ODI) and clearly inspired by Fleming’s world-record 194th match as captain, bowled out Pakistan for 223 after piling up 274-7 in the day-night ODI.

Fleming, who overtook Sri Lankan Arjuna Ranatunga’s tally of 193 ODIs as captain, led from the front with 80 and Scott Styris hit a fluent 86 after New Zealand were given first strike. The Kiwis overcame a wet outfield, caused by late-evening dew that made it difficult to grip the ball, to beat back Pakistan’s challenge under lights at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Ground.

“I could not have asked for more,” said the 33-year-old Fleming, who was named man of the match in his landmark game. “We had good runs on the board but it was the way we bowled that was the key. Bond struck when it mattered most and the others also did their bit. We can now sit back and watch the others trying to get where we already are. It’s a good feeling.”

The 33-year-old Fleming opened the batting and stood his ground until the 38th over to steady the faltering innings. The Black Caps were reduced to 23-2 before being rescued by a fourth-wicket stand of 108 between Fleming and Styris. Styris, who needed a runner in the latter part of his innings due to a back strain, smashed 10 boundaries to lead a late batting assault.

Jacob Oram slammed 31 off 26 balls as New Zealand plundered 99 runs in the last 10 overs.

Mohammad Yousuf (71) and Shoaib Malik (52) put on 94 for the fifth wicket to resurrect Pakistan’s hopes after the top four batsmen had fallen by the 17th over with just 83 runs on the board. Pakistan moved to a healthy 177-4 in the 37th over, needing 98 more from 82 balls, when pace spearhead Shane Bond swung the match New Zealand’s way in his second spell.

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said his team made too many mistakes. “Conceding 99 runs in the last 10 overs set us back in the field and the loss of early wickets made it more difficult,” he said. “We now have everything to play for on Friday. Hopefully, we would have learnt our lessons from this game.”

Bond had Yousuf caught at cover by Fleming with his third delivery and then removed the dangerous Abdul Razzaq two overs later, hooking a catch to fine-leg after making six. Bond finished with three for 45 from 10 overs while Kyle Mills and Oram picked up two wickets each.

New Zealand ended the league with two wins from three matches, ensuring themselves one of the two semifinal spots from group B.

Scoreboard

Pakistan won toss

New Zealand

L Vincent b Umar 3

*S P Fleming c & b Shoaib 80

N J Astle c Younis b Naved 15

P G Fulton lbw b Iftikhar 7

S B Styris c Iftikhar b Umar 86

J D P Oram c Umar b Razzaq 31

†B B McCullum c Shoaib b Razzaq 27

J E C Franklin not out 9

D L Vettori not out 0

Extras (lb8, w7, nb1) 16

Total (7 wkts, 50 overs) 274

Did not bat: K D Mills, S E Bond

Fall: 1-3, 2-23, 3-60, 4-168, 5-220, 6-254, 7-270

Bowling: Naved-ul-Hasan 8-0-44-1 (1nb, 1w); Umar Gul 9-1-47-2 (3w); Rao Iftikhar 8-2-41-1; Abdul Razzaq 10-1-60-2 (1w); Shahid Afridi 10-0-49-0; Shoaib Malik 5-0-25-1 (2w)

Pakistan

Mohammad Hafeez c McCullum b Oram 43

Imran Farhat c Mills b Bond 6

*Younis Khan c Vincent b Mills 2

Mohammad Yousuf c Fleming b Bond 71

Shahid Afridi c Bond b Oram 4

Shoaib Malik c Astle b Vettori 52

Abdul Razzaq c Franklin b Bond 6

†Kamran Akmal c Fleming b Mills 16

Naved-ul-Hasan c McCullum b Franklin 1

Umar Gul run out (sub [RL Taylor]) 8

Rao Iftikhar not out 0

Extras (lb5, w5, nb4) 14

Total (all out, 46.3 overs) 223

Fall: 1-22, 2-45, 3-65, 4-83, 5-177, 6-195, 7-202, 8-205, 9-223

Bowling: Mills 7.3-1-38-2 (2nb); Bond 10-0-45-3 (1nb, 3w); Franklin 9-0-47-1 (1nb, 2w); Oram 8-1-25-2; Vettori 10-0-52-1; Astle 2-0-11-0

Result: New Zealand won by 51 runs

Points: New Zealand 2, Pakistan 0

Man of the Match: Stephen Fleming

Umpires: M R Benson (England) and R E Koertzen (South Africa). TV umpire: B F Bowden (New Zealand). Match referee: R S Madugalle (Sri Lanka)

Source:The News

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