• Source:JND
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In a crucial World Cup encounter, Pakistan's pursuit of a massive 402-run target against New Zealand was interrupted by rain, leaving the team 10 runs ahead on the Duckworth-Lewis (DLS) par score. The match, held on Saturday, showcased Pakistan's strong start, with the team comfortably positioned at 160 for one after 21.3 overs of play.

The 1992 World Cup champions had lost just one wicket, that of Abdullah Shafique, as their top-order batsmen, Fakhar Zaman (106 not out) and skipper Babar Azam (47 not out), were in exceptional form, forging an unbroken 154-run partnership.

As the rain interrupted the match, 'Qudrat Ka Nizam' stated trending on X (formerly Twitter) by cricket fans. This idiom was first heard by former Pakistan coach Saqlain Mushtaq in a press conference after Pakistan lost 3-0 to England in their home test series. Using it as a 'taunt', cricket fans started associating this slang with Pakistan Team as they rely heavily on luck during multi-nation tournaments. Check out the reactions here:

Before the match, Pakistan's aspirations were to chase New Zealand's monumental target in 35.2 overs to secure victory on net run rate (NRR) and keep their semifinal aspirations alive in the tournament.

Also Read: PAK vs NZ Live Cricket Score, World Cup 2023

In the lead-up to this critical match, New Zealand had posted a formidable total of 401 for six, marking only the second instance in the tournament where the 400-run mark had been breached. Previously, South Africa had set the record with a staggering 428 for five against Sri Lanka in their World Cup opener in New Delhi, surpassing Australia's record from the 2015 edition.

With the rain delay injecting a level of uncertainty into the match, fans and cricket enthusiasts eagerly awaited the resumption of play to witness if Pakistan could successfully chase down the challenging target, ultimately determining the fate of their World Cup campaign.