New Zealand have become the fourth and final side to qualify for this summer’s Cricket World Cup semi-final stage.
Having finished their nine group stage matches with 11 points, the Kiwis knew only a monstrous victory for Pakistan over Bangladesh at Lord’s on Friday could see them overhauled in fourth place on net run rate.
Batting first and scoring 315 from their 50 overs, Pakistan faced the improbable task of needing to bowl Bangladesh out for just seven runs, which they unsurprisingly failed to do, sending New Zealand through to join Australia, England and India in the knockout stage.
Kane Williamson’s side began the tournament in excellent form, with four wins on the bounce, but will go into the semi-finals as outsiders of the quartet, having lost their last three games, to Australia, Pakistan and England.
It is the fourth World Cup in a row in which New Zealand have reached the semi-finals, but they have never lifted the trophy, with the 2015 final loss to Australia their best ever performance.
They will meet whichever team tops the group at Old Trafford in the first semi-final on Tuesday, 9 July. That is likely to be rivals Australia, who will finish first if they beat South Africa on Saturday, or if India fail to beat Sri Lanka on the same day.
The second-placed side will face England in the second semi-final at Edgbaston on Thursday, 11 July, with the final taking place at Lord’s on 14 July.
