FAKHAR Zaman`s fireworks kept Pakistan afloat before rain intervened yesterday. Once the cricket match resumed, the left-handed opener continued to pulverise the New Zealand bowlers in Bengaluru to keep his side ahead on the par score, in accordance with the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, until the rain returned. It was power-hitting brilliance, something Pakistan had been unable to demonstrate so far in this World Cup. But thankfully, it came when it was most needed. Fakhar`s blistering century, studded with 11 sixes, secured a 21-run victory that ensured Pakistan live to fight another day. It was effectively a must-win game for both teams, even more so for Pakistan who had no room for error in their bid to keep semi-finals hope alive. They hadn`t helped themselves with the ball, with New Zealand posting a mammoth 401-6, hitting Pakistan to all parts of the ground. It seemed the writing was on the wall for Pakistan when Fakhar`s opening partner Abdullah Shafique was dismissed early on.

Luckily for Pakistan, Fakhar was in a punishing mood, trying to make up for lost time. Fakhar had seemed out of sorts as Pakistan won their opening two matches of the tournament before getting injured. Abdullah replaced him and cemented his place in the side alongside Imam-ul-Haq at the top of the order. But Pakistan would go on to lose four matches on the trot, forcing them to recall Fakhar in the last game against Bangladesh, the southpaw responding with a dominant 81 that helped Pakistan canter to a seven-wicket victory. He bettered that against New Zealand with captain Babar Azam also getting on the act with a half-century.

The cornered tigers have roared back. The only question is whether it`s too late. Most pre-match talk ahead of the game against New Zealand centred on the margin by which Pakistan had to win in order to move into the top four standings. New Zealand`s batting show meant margins became an afterthought with a win being all that mattered. Pakistan moved into fifth place, at level in points with fourth-placed New Zealand and Afghanistan in sixth. By the time Pakistan face England in their last match of the league round on Saturday, they will know exactly what is required to reach the semi-finals. What the team already knows though is that it can`t afford to be loose with bowling again.