A spectacular knock by Babar Azam helped Pakistan end New Zealand’s unbeaten start to the 2019 ICC World Cup, as the Asian side beat the Kiwis by six wickets to keep their hopes for a semi-finals spot alive. Bowling first, the left-arm pace brigade of Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Amir were too hot to handle for the New Zealand top-order, and that was well complimented by a match-winning 126 run partnership between Azam and Haris Sohail.

The win helped Pakistan get to seven points, with games against Bangladesh and Afghanistan to follow. They could potentially now be semi-finalists if England are to slip up in their next couple of games.

Pakistan beating New Zealand also meant that Sarfaraz Ahmed’s side now have share a lot of parallels from their World Cup winning campaign of 1992. Even then, they had lost three, won two games and had one match washed out before they faced an unbeaten New Zealand side in a must win clash.

The similarities between the two campaigns sent Pakistani fans into a frenzy, as the hastag �92MeiBhiYehiHuaTha�(same things happened in 1992 as well) was trending on social media after Pakistan’s victory over New Zealand.

Here are some of the finest tweets highlighting some creepy coincidences of the two World Cup campaigns.

Similarities continues:

1992 NZ Bat 1st
2019 NZ Bat 1st

1992 Ramiz Scored Notout Century
2019 Babar Scored Notout Century

1992 Finishes with a boundary
2019 Finishes with a boundary

1992 I was Happy
2019 I am Happy #NZvPAK #CWC19 #WeHaveWeWill #92MaiBhiYehiHuaTha pic.twitter.com/xIPKXpyMwX

�Hasnain Shah (@Shahhasnain69) June 26, 2019

Pakistan win the match number 7 with five balls remaining. They won the game 7 with five balls remaining in WC 1992 too. This is getting unbelievable! #92MaiBhiYehiHuaTha

�Ibrahim Muhammad (@helloibrahim) June 26, 2019

Now they are broadcasting this 92 symmetry of Winning the World cup. #92MaiBhiYehiHuaTha pic.twitter.com/qP9s4Hb9E8

�Ibrahim Muhammad (@helloibrahim) June 26, 2019

92 mai Inzi ko Jhonty ne esay run-out kiya tha. I am dead. #92MaiBhiYehiHuaTha is real. #Believe

�Rehan Ulhaq (@Rehan_ulhaq) June 26, 2019

I've succumbed to the similarities curse. Here are some interesting (and contrived ones).

There are FIFTEEN in all!!#MakeStatsGreatAgain #PAKvNZ #NZvPAK #CWC19 #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/bw18KPVL0g

�Victor Tarapore (@VictorTarapore) June 26, 2019

This is getting unbelievable #92MaiBhiYehiHuaTha pic.twitter.com/wyHiohyeyr

�M@leeh@_Ali (@MleehAli1) June 27, 2019

Feature Image courtesy: Cricket World Cup/ Twitter

All-rounder Jimmy Neesham is confident that New Zealand's defeat against Pakistan in Birmingham on Wednesday will not derail their 2019 ICC World Cup bid.

The 2015 runners-up lost by six wickets to a resurgent Pakistan, on the back of a brilliant unbeaten 101 by Babar Azam and three wickets from teenage paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Neesham led New Zealand's fightback with a career-best undefeated 97 to lift them from a precarious 83-5 to 237-6 in their 50 overs at Edgbaston but they went down to their first defeat of the tournament.

Victory would have seen Kane Williamson's team become the second team to qualify for the World Cup semi-finals after defending champions Australia.

Despite the setback New Zealand, who have never won the World Cup, are still well-placed, second in the 10-team table on 11 points from seven games.

"I think you'd be pretty naive to expect to go through the whole tournament unbeaten," said the 28-year-old Neesham. "There are too many quality teams going around to expect to win every game.

"We prepared for a tournament where we'd probably lose one or two games, but for us it's all about making it to the semi-finals, and you're only two good games away from lifting the trophy. So for us nothing changes.

"We'll prepare for the next game the same way we've prepared for the last six," said Neesham, whose team next play Australia at Lord's on Saturday, with their final game against hosts England on July 3.

Neesham, who added 132 for the sixth wicket with fellow all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme (64), believed his side had enough runs on the board against Pakistan.

"I think probably being 46-4 was a pretty significant moment in the game," said Neesham of New Zealand's bad start, caused mainly by Shaheen's burst of three wickets in 20 balls.

"I think Pakistan's bowling was obviously really impressive. We sort of try and dig ourselves out of that hole and that took a lot of doing, but I think we potentially got to a score that was defendable."

Neesham said the fourth-wicket stand of 126 between Babar and Haris Sohail (68) had taken the game away from New Zealand.

"Obviously, the way Babar and Sohail batted didn't allow us to get some momentum and try to get into their middle order and that was the difference," he added.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter/ @cricketworldcup

Pakistan kept alive their chances of reaching the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday, cruising to a six-wicket win against previously unbeaten New Zealand at Edgbaston.

New Zealand scored 237 for six in their 50 overs but that total proved inadequate as Babar Azam scored an impressive unbeaten 101 and Haris Sohail (68) offered valuable support.

Pakistan reached their target off the first ball of their final over, finishing on 241-4.

"The wicket was difficult but my aim was to bat for 50 overs and if I did I knew Pakistan would win the match," said man-of-the-match Babar.

"We know we'd need to score runs off the pace bowlers. Once (Mitchell) Santner came on it was doing stuff off the pitch so (Mohammad) Hafeez told me to stick at it and score three or four runs an over."

Sarfaraz Ahmed's side, who beat South Africa on Sunday to revive their flagging World Cup campaign, now have seven points, level with fifth-placed Bangladesh and just one point behind hosts England.

During the course of his innings, Babar became the second-fastest to reach 3,000 one-day international runs in front of thousands of fanatical Pakistan fans.

Babar, 24, took 11 innings more than South Africa's Hashim Amla, who reached the milestone in 57 innings, but overtook West Indies great Viv Richards (69 innings).

He reached his hundred off 124 balls with 11 fours.

Earlier, Jimmy Neesham hit a career-best 97 not out while Colin de Grandhomme made 64 after New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat.

Left-arm seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi (3-28) starred as Pakistan reduced New Zealand to 83-5, with in-form captain Kane Williamson dismissed by leg-spinner Shadab Khan for 41.

New Zealand are second in the table on 11 points behind Australia, the only team who have qualified so far.

The top four teams qualify for the semi-finals.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / CricketWorldCup

Babar Azam hit a sparkling century as Pakistan kept alive their hopes of reaching the World Cup semi-finals with an impressive six-wicket win against New Zealand on Wednesday.

Sarfaraz Ahmed's side appeared down and out with only one win in their first five matches but they have bounced back strongly to beat South Africa and now previously unbeaten New Zealand.

Their victory at Edgbaston means they are level on seven points with Bangladesh and just one point behind faltering hosts England, with matches against bottom side Afghanistan and Bangladesh to come.

Man-of-the-match Babar was the star of the show, scoring a measured 101 off 127 balls in front thousands of fanatical fans in Birmingham as Pakistan surpassed New Zealand's total of 237 for six in the final over.

Pakistan's revival after three defeats earlier in the tournament recalls memories of the 1992 campaign, when they won the trophy after a sticky start.

"Whenever we are in a corner we play our best, it was a great team effort," said winning captain Sarfaraz. 

A win to savour for the Pakistan fans #CWC19 | #NZvPAK | #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/q2Lr6lx24M

�Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 26, 2019

"All the bowlers bowled well and there was some of the finest batting I have ever seen. The target of 240 was not an easy and we just wanted to play the 50 overs. Babar played one of the best innings I have ever seen. They handled the pressure so well.

"We are not thinking about 1992, we are going match by match."

- Babar landmark -

Pakistan were wobbling at 110-3 when Mohammad Hafeez was out for 32 in the 25th over but 24-year-old Babar anchored the innings and was ably supported by Haris Sohail, who hit 68.

During the course of his knock, Babar became the second-fastest to reach 3,000 one-day-international runs -- in 68 innings.

Babar took 11 innings more than South Africa's Hashim Amla  but overtook West Indies great Viv Richards (69 innings).

"The wicket was difficult but my aim was to bat for 50 overs and if I did I knew Pakistan would win the match," said man-of-the-match Babar.

"We know we'd need to score runs off the pace bowlers. Once (Mitchell) Santner came on it was doing stuff off the pitch so Hafeez told me to stick at it and score three or four runs an over."

Sohail was run out in the 49th over, leaving Sarfaraz to hit the winning runs.

Earlier, Jimmy Neesham hit a career-best 97 not out while Colin de Grandhomme made 64 after New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat.

Left-arm seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi (3-28) starred with the ball as Pakistan reduced New Zealand to 83-5, with in-form captain Kane Williamson dismissed by leg-spinner Shadab Khan for 41.

"The fight we showed in the back end was outstanding and we were in a competitive position," said Williamson. "We were right in it but their batsmen played beautifully well and took the game away from us.

"There are so many games in the round robin you can't win them all."

New Zealand are second in the 10-team table on 11 points behind Australia (12 points), the only team who have qualified so far. The top four teams qualify for the semi-finals.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / CricketWorldCup

Jimmy Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme hit fighting half-centuries as New Zealand posted 237 for six after Shaheen Shah Afridi's three-wicket burst left them in a perilous position against Pakistan on Wednesday.

Neesham finished with a career-best one-day international score of 97 not out, hitting a six off the final ball, while De Grandhomme scored 64 to give their unbeaten team side a defensible total at Edgbaston.

The pair, who came together at 83-5, added 132 for the sixth wicket, repairing the damage after a collapse following Kane Williamson's decision to bat in overcast conditions in Birmingham.

Teenager Shaheen, who finished with figures of 3-28 in his 10 overs, wrecked the New Zealand top order, taking three wickets in 20 balls as Pakistan looked for a crucial victory following their win against South Africa.

Neesham, whose previous highest ODI score was 74, hit five fours and three sixes in his sixth ODI fifty and was ably supported by De Grandhomme.

Despite New Zealand's fightback, Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur said he was confident his side could win the match and stay in the hunt for a semi-final place.

"Shaheen Afridi is only 19, we've got to understand that. Today he was outstanding, he asked a lot of questions," he said.

"Jimmy Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme played well. I thought we kept them at bay pretty well. I think there's always going to be a partnership, it's that sort of wicket, but they showed us how to play on the wicket. I'm backing us to chase that total."

New Zealand were wobbling badly when the in-form Williamson was dismissed by leg-spinner Shadab Khan, who enticed the captain into giving an edge to wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed when he was on 41.

Williamson, who had scored centuries in each of his previous innings, put on 37 for the fifth wicket with Neesham after New Zealand had slipped to 46-4.

Mohammad Amir was first to strike, bowling Martin Guptill with the New Zealand score on five before Shaheen had opener Colin Munro (12) caught by Haris Sohail in the slips.

Ross Taylor edged a Shaheen delivery to Sarfaraz and Tom Latham departed in similar fashion.

Overnight rain delayed the start by an hour but the umpires decided the match would remain at 50 overs per side.

New Zealand, who are second in the 10-team table with 11 points, kept the same team for the fifth match in a row.

Pakistan, who are seventh, with five points, also kept faith with the team that beat South Africa at Lord's on Sunday.

If New Zealand win, they will join title-holders Australia in the semi-finals.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / CricketWorldCup

Mitchell Santner said New Zealand could not afford to take "dangerous" Pakistan lightly as they attempt to seal their place in the World Cup semi-finals in Birmingham on Wednesday.

Unbeaten New Zealand have 11 points from five victories and a rained-off game while Pakistan must win to keep alive their chances of qualifying for the last four

"Obviously, they've had a pretty good record over here," said the spinning all-rounder on the eve of the match at Edgbaston.

"They won the Champions Trophy a couple of years ago and they've come off a pretty good win against South Africa."

"We're at the top at the moment (before the England v Australia result), but we can't take any games lightly."

Santner praised Pakistan's varied bowling attack.

"Their bowling attack on the whole is very good. They've got some very good seam bowlers as well as spin bowlers. We're aware of their strengths, and I think Wahab (Riaz) back into their team is very good for them."

"(Mohammad) Amir is bowling very well as well," added Santner of the left-arm paceman, who has 15 wickets in five matches.

Santner said Pakistan, who have lost three matches at the World Cup so far, had the ability to raise their game despite their troubles.

"They took down England and took down South Africa the other day," he said. "When they're hot, they're really hot. We have to, obviously, find ways of trying to cool them down when they're like that."

The left-handed batsman said skipper Kane Williamson was key to New Zealand's batting strength.

"He's coming off two tons, and the one against South Africa the other night was pretty special," he said. "It didn't look, I guess, as fluid, his innings, but that's what made it so good."

Feature image courtesy: Twitter/ @BLACKCAPS

Pakistan bowling coach Azhar Mahmood questioned New Zealand's ability to win the biggest matches ahead of Wednesday's World Cup clash in Birmingham.

Kane Williamson's side are undefeated at the tournament in England and Wales, with five wins in six games, plus one no result.

In contrast, Pakistan must win the match at Edgbaston if they are to maintain a realistic chance of reaching the semi-finals after a poor start to the tournament in England and Wales.

Mahmood, a former allrounder who played in three World Cups for Pakistan, said New Zealand had a good record early in tournaments but often wilted under pressure at the business end.

"New Zealand's history is such that they get there winning, winning and then when a crunch situation comes up, in the semi-final, or quarter-final, they don't do that well," Mahmood said on Tuesday.

"It can happen to any team. Everyone has to have a bad day. Hopefully New Zealand have it tomorrow."

New Zealand, who have never won a World Cup, have reached the semi-finals six times and lost to Australia in the 2015 final in Melbourne.

During the current tournament they have coped well in pressure situations, coming out on top against Bangladesh, South Africa and the West Indies in tight finishes.

But Pakistan have a good record in matches between the two sides, winning six of their eight World Cup encounters, including semi-final victories in 1992 and in the 1999 edition, also in England.

Pakistan started their campaign slowly at the 1992 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand but beat New Zealand twice and went on to lift the trophy for the first and only time.

"If you see the 1992 World Cup and this one, there are a few similarities," said Azhar. "But we're not thinking like that. Australia were in a similar situation in the 1999 World Cup (which they won).

"If they lost any games, they would have been out. We are in that situation now. But for us, every match is a final, that is how we are looking at it.  We know that if we perform poorly anywhere, we could be out."

Mahmood praised in-form paceman Mohammad Amir, who has taken 15 wickets in five matches.

"Amir has started pushing his lengths up a little, allowing himself to swing the ball," he said. "That has been key for us. It's very important for us that he gives us early breakthroughs and he has that ability.

"His skills and ability have always been exceptional."

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @GibranAshraf