After their loss to England, the Blackcaps know that Pakistan need a miracle to edge them out of the Cricket World Cup semi-finals.
On Thursday, the Blackcaps suffered their third-straight loss of the tournament with a crushing 119-run defeat against England, helping the host nation secure their spot in the final four for the first time since 1992.
England became the third team to qualify for the semi-finals, after India and Australia.
But New Zealand are virtually assured of the fourth and final spot in the semi-finals, as Pakistan would need to create history in their final group game against Bangladesh on Friday.
Victory would see Pakistan draw level on points with New Zealand, but the Blackcaps currently hold a far superior net run rate of 0.175, while Pakistan are on -0.792.
As a result, Pakistan must bat first and hope for the following:
- Score at least 308 and then dismiss the Tigers for zero.
- Pile on 350 runs, and then bowl Bangladesh for less than 38 runs to win by at least 312 runs.
- Score a tournament-high 400 runs and then dismiss Bangladesh for less than 84 runs.
In other words, Pakistan would have to rack up a mammoth total and then skittle Bangladesh for a tiny score, which seems improbable.
If Bangladesh win the toss and bat first, Pakistan would be knocked out without a ball being bowled.
Pakistan's biggest score of the tournament was 348/8 against England, while Bangladesh have been hit for more than 350 twice this tournament - 381/5 v Australia and 386/6 v England.
But the largest margin of victory by runs at the 2019 World Cup was only 150, when England beat Afghanistan, and the lowest score of the tournament was 105, ironically achieved by Pakistan in a loss to the West Indies.
Away from the World Cup, the largest margin of victory by runs was 290, when the Blackcaps stomped Ireland in 2008, while teams have only achieved wins greater than 250 runs on nine occasions.
With New Zealand sitting fourth, they'll likely face Australia in the semi-finals in Manchester on Tuesday.
Newshub.
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