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Pakistan 241/4 def New Zealand 237/6 by six wickets.
Due to technical difficulties, our live updates of NZ v Pakistan were interrupted - we apologise for any inconvenience.
6:30am - If you're a Blackcaps fan, no doubt you'll be disapointed by the result. Click here for Newshub's game wrap.
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50th over - Pakistan win the match. They beat New Zealand by six wickets.
49th over - After Henry's over, just one run is needed to win.
48th over - Ferguson is hit for four to start the over and you'd have to say that Pakistan should get home now. Babar gets back on strike - remeber he's on 99 - and he finds the gap and he has his 100 and the fans love it.
47th over - Boult in his final over. Babar is on 99 with one ball left in the over, but he doesn't get off the mark. Boult just conceeds the one run in the over and now 13 from 18 is required.
46th over - Lockie Ferguson now bowling as the Blackcaps really need to break this partnership. Pakistan need 14 from 24 at the end of the over.
45th over - Jimmy Neesham saves a four with a great dive, but it doesn't stop Haris getting his 50. Once again, another four from the fianl ball of the over just keeps Pakistan in front.
44th over - Santner to bowl his final over. Another great over with only three runs scored. 33 runs needed of 36 balls now. Can the Blackcaps do enough to get home here?
43rd over - Only three runs scored in that over which is good for the Blackcaps, but it's still Pakistan's to lose here. 35 runs needed for them to win. Haris on 48 and Babar on 91.
42nd over - Santner is being punished a Babar hits back-to-back fours to start the over which bring him up to 89 by the end of the over runs. Now 37 ooff 48 required.
41st over - The Blackcaps are taking their time to organise the field here. They know the importance of winning this game. Boult to bowl his seventh over. Two singles off the first five balls, before Haris edges the ball to the ropes for four. Pakistan now need 49 from 54. This is going to be tight.
40th over - Mitchell Santner in for another over. He's been very effective, but hasn't claimed a wicket. After the over, Pakistan now need 55 from 60 balls.
39th over - Williamson bowled five great balls to start, but then he's hit for four off his final delivery. It beats a couple of fielders as it rolls to the boundary.
38th over - Here comes Trent Boult. He's 1/22 from five overs so far. The Blackcaps are in desperate need of a wicket. After two singles and a dot, Haris then hits a six down the great which will help Pakistan's run rate.
37th over - Williamson to resume in the attack. The Blackcaps captain has been great so far, but his good run comes to an end with back-to-back fours to Babar which puts Pakistan in the box seat.
36th over - Colin Munro now having a bowl. He's hit for four off his second ball. He ends up giving up nine runs and now Pakistan need 84 off 84.
The Blackcaps will need to get the wicket of Babar quickly as he's unbeaten on 63.
35th over - Kane Williamson into his sixth over with the ball. He's 1/19 at the moment, after claiming the wicket of Mohammad Hafeez for 32.
He only conceeds three runs off his over from three singles.
5:15am - Sorry for the lack of updates, we ran into some technical issues, but we're back now!
The Blackcaps finished 237/6 from their 50 overs. Jimmy Neesham finished unbeaten on 97, while Colin de Grandhomme was run out for 64.
After 34 overs, Pakistan are 142/3, needing 96 runs off 96 balls to win. Babar Azam and Haris Sohali at the crease.
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38th over: Amir to continue.
De Grandhomme almost plays the ball onto his stumps - gets a good bounce.
Great over from Amir - just the two singles from that one.
37th over: Wahab is back. 0/18 from 5 overs.
De Grandhomme plays and misses outside off on the drive. Lucky not to edge that one.
Neesham on the pull again but no timing this time and he gets two.
Three from that over.
36th over: Mohammad Amir is back - 1/23 from 4.
Fifty partnership up from 54 balls.
Four from Neesham! His best shot. Short from Amir and Neesham rocks back and pulls through mid-wicket along the deck.
Neesham goes in the air over mid-wicket and Babar is running back but can't haul it in. Amir is frustrated - he had Neesham done with the slower ball there.
35th over: Shadab to continue.
Six! De Grandhomme smashes this one over mid-wicket. Rank short ball from Shadab.
11 from that one for the Blackcaps - 29 from the last three.
34th over: Wasim to continue.
Four for Neesham. Wide outside off and Neesham goes over cover for a boundary.
Six from the over.
33rd over: Shadab Khan to bowl his eight over - 1/18 so far.
Six! Neesham stays in his crease but it's well flighted and he launches it over long off for a six. First of the innings.
Steaky four for de Grandhomme - he goes for the slog over mid off but he gets a big edege and the ball flies away to third man for a boundary.
12 off the over.
32nd over: Imad Wasim is back - just the one over so far.
Nice leg glance from Colin earns him a couple and NZ has 100! Woot!
31st over: Shadab to continue.
De Grandhomme swings across the line - ugly shot - it takes the edge but doesn't quite carry ot Amir in the gully.
Three runs from the over - drinks.
30th over: Wahab continues - 0/12 from 4 overs.
De Grandhomme drives and misses.
A four for the Blackcaps at last. Full from Wahab and de Grandhomme is on the drive and it's well times from the big fella.
Wahab's reply is a beauty - ful again but slightly wider and de Grandhomme plays and misses again.
De Grandhomme with a quick single to Shadab whi hits the stumps - he may be in trouble here...no he's just home by a frame. As close as you get.
Six runs from that over - 20 to go. A run a ball from here gets New Zealand to 214.
29th over: Shadab continues.
Big swing from CDG but he misses and the ball crashes into his pads but spinning down the legside.
Great over from Shadab - Colin looks a bit edgy - feel a big shot coming soon.
28th over: Wahab continues.
Neesham plays and misses - the keeper goes upm but the bowler and slip aren't that keen - replay shows no edge - they didn't review.
De Grandhomme witha big drive but he can't make contact.
27th over: It'll be Shadab to continue.
Tight single from Neesham to start the over but Willimson is home.
WICKET: Williamson c Sarfaraz b Shadab 41 (69) - Oh no. Great bowling - Shadab brings Williamson forward - the ball spins and takes the edge and the skipper catches a sharp one. Captain Kane can't save the Blackcaps today.
2 runs and a wicket for Shadab from that one - he may have just won the game for his country.
26th over: Wahab 0/7 from two overs - he continues.
Three singles from that one. This is a grind but these two must keep batting.
25th over: Shadab Khan to bowl his fourth over - 0/8.
Just the two singles from that one.
24th over: Wahab will continue.
Great over from Wahab. Just the single from the bat of Williamson - Neesham beaten on two occasions.
23rd over: Shadab to continue.
Just two singles from the over.
22nd over: Change of bowling - Wahab Riaz into the attack.
Williamson turns the ball to mid-wicket for a couple.
Steaky four from Williamson. He drags it back, much like Guptill earlier but it misses the stumps and trickles down to the boundary for four. First four in 86 balls.
Williamson beaten outside off from the final two balls. Wahab getting a smidge of movement away.
21st over: Shadab to continue.
Blackcaps dealing in singles at the moment.
Neesham grabs two from the last ball - four from the over.
20th over: Hafeez to bowl his seventh.
Neesham nibbles at a turner and almost gets the edge.
Four singles from the over.
19th over: Shadab Khan into the attack replacing Shaheen who has 3/11 from seven.
Lots of spin here for Shadab.
Just the two from Shadab's first. looks dangerous.
18th over: Hafeez to bowl his sixth. 0/14 so far.
Dangerous from Neesham He lofts over mid-on but he was aiming for mid-wicket...it just evades the fielder who was chasing back quickly.
Four from the over.
17th over: Shaheen to continue.
Really good running there - Neesham drops one into the off side and they scamper for one.
45 minutes since the Kiwis last boundary.
The Kiwis took to Shaheen in that over...two runs from it.
16th over: Hafeez to continue.
Kane goes down the ground for a single off the first.
Neesham makes two, then works one into the leg side for one.
Two dots to finish - four from it.
15th over: Shaheen has 3/9 from five overs. He continues.
Neesham drives and misses - there is a little but of nip in the wicket but most of these are dead straight.
Another maiden from Shaheen.
14th over: Hafeez to continue.
Just the two singles from that one.
13th over: Shaheen to bowl his fifth.
WICKET: Latham c Sarfaraz b Shaheen 1(13): Another failure for Latham. Great, persistent bowling from Shaheen who draws a feint edge form Latham's bat.
This is what happens when you continue to play out of form batsman. Eventually you crumble and today seems to be the day. Williamson or bust for the Blackcaps now. Drinks.
Neesham plays and misses his first ball. Shaheen looks like he's bowling grenades.
One run and a wicket from that one.
12th over: Mohammad Hafeez returns - 0/7 from two overs.
Latham struggling to get Hafeez away - plays out four dot balls to end the over. he has one run from 12 balls.
11th over: Shaheen to cotinue.
Latham plays out a maiden. Good watchful batting from the out of form left hander.
10th over: Latham is the new batsman. Imad Wasim with his slow left arm orthodox.
Williamson picks up three to third man with some deft touch batting.
Five from the Imad over.
9th over: Shaheen has 1/4 from two overs and he will continue.
Taylor drives through point for three runs - Shadab Khan does well to save a run. To full from Shaheen.
WICKET: Taylor c Sarfaraz b Shaheen 3 (8): Superb catch from the skipper. Shaheen gets that extra bounce again and Taylor defends but it takes the edge and Sarfaraz is at full stretch and takes it brilliantly to his right. NZ in deep trouble here.
8th over: Amir to bowl his fourth over.
Williamson drives superbly through the covers for four runs. What a shot from the skipper.
Back-to-back from Williamson. Shorter this time and Williamson rocks back and guides it through point for four.
10 from that one - Amir 1/23 from four overs.
7th over: Shaheen to bowl his second.
Wicket maiden from Shaheen.
WICKET: Munro c Haris b Shaheen 12 (17): He fails again. Wide from Shaheen and it's there to hit but it bounces more than Munro thinks and he edges hard to Haris at slip, who takes a nice catch just above his eyes..
6th over: Amir to continue - 1/11 from two overs.
Wide ball down the legside from Amir.
Just the two runs from the over - no swing to speak of.
5th over: Shaheen Afridi replaces Hafeez.
Hold up in play - 3 or 4 minutes so far because of a faulty sightscreen.
Back underway - Williamson keeps out a nice yorker from Shaheen.
Williamson turns a full one to square leg for his first boundary.
Four from the over.
4th over: Amir to bowl to Munro.
Munro goes over midwicket but doesn't get all of it. Gets a couple.
Munro square drives through point for four. Well timed.
Short and wide and Munro cuts for a second straight four. Lovely shot.
10 from the over.
3rd over: Hafeez to continue.
Plenty of spin there. Williamson almost clips a turning ball to short leg.
Williamson turns a straight one to square leg for one.
Munro chips over short mid off for one.
Just the two singles from that over.
2nd over: Mohammad Amir to open up alongside Hafeez.
WICKET: Guptil b Amir 5 (4): Oh dear! A wide floater outside off and Guptill launches into a huge drive but he drags it back onto his stumps. Another poor start for the Blackcaps.
No swing yet - Williamson plays inside a straight one.
Munro just gets down on a full yorker from Amir.
One run and a wicket from that one.
1st over: It'll be Guptill to take strike against the offspin of Mohammad Hafeez...Interesting.
Guptill swings the first ball down to the square leg boundary for four. Nice start.
Spin from the ball number three...pitched well outside off and the came back a big time...Guptill gets it away for one.
Munro plays out three dots to end the over.
10:07pm - Pakistan unchanged from the side that slapped South Africa - skipper Sartaraz championing his quick bowling gems: ""Good to see Amir back in form, as well as Wahab Riaz," he says.
"The fielding is a concern but we're working hard and hopefully we'll do well as a fielding unit today."
10:05pm - "You turn up and know you'll have a tough game, as Pakistan are a very tough side," said Williamson.
"For us, it's trying to build on those performances and keep improving."
He says he expects the Kiwi fans to be vastly outweighed by Pakistan supporters, but he doesn't mind.
10:04pm - Williamson considered bowling first but it's very cold and he beleives the wicket will get slower. Pakistan would have batted first as well.
10:02pm - Kane Williamson has won the toss and the Blackcaps will bat first on a used wicket - no changes to the lineup.
9:37pm - Good news. Toss at 10pm with play to start at 10.30pm. There is a patch on the wicket block that is quite damp, but the ground staff are out there fixing that up at the moment.
8:55pm - Delayed start - Outfield inspection at 9:30pm.
8:43pm - A bit of drizzle about Edgebaston at the moment - Toss still scheduled for 9pm.
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Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Cricket World Cup clash between the Blackcaps and Pakistan from Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Big match, this. Victory would see New Zealand back on top of the tournament table and clinching a spot in the semi-finals.
TAB Odds: New Zealand $1.65 Pakistan $2.13
A win for Pakistan would put hosts England under immense pressure to make the top four, with the toughest schedule of any team over the final stages - India and Australia down the stretch.
- Conditons clearing for Blackcaps in Birmingham
- CWC Power Rankings: Favourites England slide out of top four
- Pakistan target Blackcaps on march to semis
- Watch: Guptill limping as Pakistan loom
Pakistan have been the Blackcaps' bogey team at the World Cup and while they've flown under the radar through this event, they still pose a big threat to the higher-ranked teams.
The Kiwis have not been that convincing, struggling to get past Bangladesh, South Africa and West Indies, but they're still unbeaten.
In fact, with rain threatening, a draw may yet be enough for them to progress.
There are question marks over their line-up, with bowler Matt Henry and opener Colin Munro at risk of being dropped from the winning combination.
Tim Southee's experience may be preferred, after Henry was tonked for 25 off his last over against the Windies, but dropping Munro for Henry Nicholls would require a complete change of strategy from the NZ brains trust.
The man to watch in the Pakistani line-up is paceman Mohammad Amir, who - along with Lockie Ferguson - sits among the tournament's top bowlers in terms of wickets taken and average.
Pre-match: Blackcaps unfazed by shaky openers
New Zealand coach Gary Stead is confident opening batsmen Martin Guptill and Colin Munro will rediscover their scoring touch before the Cricket World Cup reaches the knockout phase.
Stead's unbeaten team, who top the standings, play Pakistan on Wednesday at Edgbaston before meeting two of the tournament favourites in Australia and England in their final group games.
Guptill and Munro, in full flight, provide New Zealand with an explosive start but they have struggled in England, with Kane Williamson (373 runs at 186.5) and Ross Taylor (200 at 50) responsible for the bulk of the side's runs.
The right-handed Guptill, the only New Zealander to have scored an ODI double century, has been dismissed for two golden ducks and his 133 runs in five innings is courtesy of his 73 not out against Sri Lanka in their opening match.
The majority of Munro's 113 runs also came in the 10-wicket victory over Dimuth Karunaratne's side when he scored an undefeated 58 in Cardiff as he and Guptill chased down the 137 needed for victory in 16.1 overs.
"In any team you will have times when people don't score runs," Stead told reporters in Birmingham before the Pakistan clash. "That's the game of cricket.
"Martin and Colin have both done it for us on numerous occasions and I hope that their time will be the next game.
"If they come off it is going to make it easier for the likes for Kane and Rosco and the guys after them."
While victory over Pakistan would confirm a spot in their eighth World Cup semi- final, Stead was wary of looking too far ahead and knows that while they top the table they could also finish outside the top four if things go against them.
"The team is in a good space," he said, adding tight wins over Bangladesh, South Africa and the West Indies would stand them in good stead.
"We have had three really close games and I guess that augurs well for when you get to finals time because you have been in those tight situations.
"We want to just keep playing the way we are at the moment."
Reuters
