After chasing a target of 238 to beat New Zealand and scoring a ton, Pakistani batsman Babar Azam said the team will “hopefully qualify”.
"We are very focussed on this. Hafeez, Sarfaraz, Shaheen and myself, we all contributed a lot and we are confident. We are taking it match by match and hopefully we will qualify,” he said.
Pakistan enhanced its reputation as the most unpredictable team in international cricket with a six-wicket victory that kept its World Cup semifinal hopes alive, ruined New Zealand's perfect record, heaped more pressure on host England and had fans reliving memories of 1992.
Babar Azam hit his 10th ODI century, finishing 101 not out off 127 balls, as Pakistan reached 241-4 with five balls to spare in reply to New Zealand's 237-6.
It was the Black Caps’ first loss in the tournament following five wins and a washed-out game against India.
Azam told reporters at a post match press conference, “I had the same plan I have in every match. First the partnership was with Hafeez and then with Haris. It was our game plan to take these partnerships forward.”
He said that everyone is positive after the win.
"It was in my mind that I'm not finishing the match in the middle batting and we had a plan that we have to carry on the innings and we did that today."
Babar shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 126 with Haris Sohail, who was run out by Martin Guptill for 68 in the penultimate over after hitting five fours and two sixes. Babar also put on 66 for the third wicket with Mohammad Hafeez (32)
Pakistan moved level with Bangladesh on seven points, one point behind fourth-place England, which has lost its last two games. The top four in the 10-team league stage advance to the semifinals.
(With inputs from AP)
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