PLAYER RATINGS: Babar Azam sparkles as New Zealand's top order has a day to forget

The Cricketer runs the rule over the individual performances of the players during the World Cup encounter at Edgbaston...

Scorecard | Talking Points

NEW ZEALAND

Martin Guptill (5): Could have given himself more time before unfurling a fatal drive at Amir. Took a good swirling catch, and then used his height to reach another off Imam diving forward. Two later misfields and a run out. 4

Colin Munro (12 and 0-9): Poor shot to a wide ball that did nothing. Would have been flabbergasted to be asked to bowl. Could find himself out of the side next time. 4

Kane Williamson (41 and 1-39): Not his finest hour. It felt like a bowl-first day, but he chose to bat, and left out Ish Sodhi on a turner. This most reluctant of bowlers found himself sending down eight successive overs. Until he feathered a prod off Shadab, looked capable of turning his side’s innings around. 5

Ross Taylor (3): Was due a failure, and edged a ball that snaked across him and took his edge for Sarfraz to pull off a worldie. 3

Tom Latham (1): Just a single off 14 balls: one of New Zealand’s most reliable batsmen can barely buy a run at the moment. Missed a tough thick-edge standing up off Babar which might have given New Zealand a sniff. 3

Jimmy Neesham (97* and 0-20): Got his head down to play the anchoring innings needed once Taylor and Williamson had both gone, though he timed the acceleration just a little too late. 8

Colin de Grandhomme (64 and 0-12): Scratchy at the start and a bit of a slouch between the wickets, but again proved that New Zealand needed the depth he brings, even if it looked like a pitch Sodhi would have relished more with the ball. 7

Mitchell Santner (5* and 0-38): Will have loved the lavish turn, but not such a threat with the one that goes on with the arm. The problem with such a small target was that Pakistan could just play him out. Came in to bat too late to land any telling blows. 5

Matt Henry (DNB & 0-22): Pakistan took a liking to his overpitched early stuff, though he pulled it back substantially. 4

Lockie Ferguson (DNB & 1-50): His pace and bounce is the crucial ingredient in this New Zealand attack, and he used it to strike with his second ball. 5

Trent Boult (DNB & 1-48): Williamson kept him up his sleeve for a late charge, but Babar and Haris were set by then. 5

^{Sarfraz took an excellent catch off the bowling of Shadab Khan to dismiss Kane Williamson in a key moment}

PAKISTAN

Imam-ul-Haq (19): Bounced out by Ferguson after a decent start. 4

Fakhar Zaman (9): The modern bat - so often his friend - turned on him as he tried to hoick Boult into the stands, only to spiral one up. 3

Babar Azam (101*): This felt like the coming-of-age for Pakistan’s next great batsman. Now the second-fastest batsman to 3,000 ODI runs, in 67 innings, after only Hashim Amla. 9.5

Mohammad Hafeez (32 and 0-22): Mucked in alongside Babar in a steadying stand, but fairly criminal to hole out off Williamson’s occasional offies. Sarfraz’s decision to bowl him first up appeared bonkers on a gloomy day, but it worked nicely. 6

Haris Sohail (68): A thoroughly different animal from the rabbit in the headlights in the opening game at Trent Bridge. Had the time to get in and build an innings, then strike a couple of sweet sixes. 7.5

Sarfraz Ahmed (5* and three catches): Did fine with the gloves, with two very smart catches. Williamson helped him out at the toss, but after the flak he’s got from some Pakistan fans he deserves some luck. 6

Imad Wasim (DNB & 0-17): Hafeez’s tidy spells meant he was restricted to just three overs this time – a surprise on a used pitch. 4

Wahab Riaz (DNB & 0-55): All the usual fire in his belly as he tore in to prevent big runs with a wholehearted closing spell. 5

Shadab Khan (DNB & 1-43): Eked out the big wicket of Williamson, and kept De Grandhomme and Neesham on a leash. 6

Mohammad Amir (DNB & 1-67) Bit more expensive than usual, but still bowled nicely, and started Pakistan’s big day by bowling Guptill off the inside edge. 6

Shaheen Afridi (DNB & 3-28): Came in with his place under threat, but was superb, forcing the batsmen to play and capturing three early wickets. 8

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