Birmingham: All-rounder Jimmy Neesham is confident that New Zealand’s defeat against Pakistan in Birmingham on Wednesday will not derail their 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 7 games. (AFP)
