Mohali: Mohali got clear-cut lessons in why New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming is hailed as the world's finest captain.
Leading his country for the 194th time in a one-dayer, he broke the world record for the highest number of matches as a captain and also the hearts of the Pakistan supporters.
Through a sterling captain's knock, he booked a semifinal spot for his team.
Fleming lost the toss but virtually wrested that advantage straight out of the hands of Pakistan skipper Younis Khan through a sterling knock of 80 along with his experienced campaigner Scott Styris.
Together they set up a challenging total and prevented Pakistan from extending their winning streak from Jaipur, following their stunning victory over Sri Lanka.
Pakistan crashed to a 51- run defeat in their second match of the Champions Trophy.
After losing the toss, all that was needed from New Zealand was two good knocks from their top order batsmen to pile up a huge total.
But the Pakistan pacers struck early to reduce New Zealand to 60 for 3.
From then on, Fleming led the recovery from the front. He needed a partner to match the challenge, and Styris, recovering from a back injury, promptly responded.
Fleming bisected the field with immaculate placing shots and dispatched the short pitch deliveries to boundaries with ease.
And the Pakistan bowlers, instead of going in for the kill, yielded to the counter attack from Fleming and Styris.
They wavered in length in their anxiety to break the partnership.
The pair virtually upset Pakistan's plans of restraining them to a small total through a 108 runs partnership in 139 balls.
When Fleming scored his 76th run, he had surpassed the world record for the maximum runs scored as a captain. He broke Ranatunga's total of 5,606 runs scored as a captain.
Four runs later, Fleming uppishly drove at Shoaib Malek to be caught and bowled. Styris, despite the recurring pain on his back, took up the mantle of maintaining the run flow.
Despite playing with a runner, he played some sparkling drives off the front and back foot.
However, he fell fourteen short of a well deserved century.
Jacob Oram and Brendon McCullum accelerated the run rate with some powerful shots. In the last ten over New Zealand piled up 99 runs losing just three wickets. Oram who had already warmed up with a quick knock of 31, struck with the ball too.
After Imran Farhat fell for six, Oram struck twice. He removed Mohammad Hafeez who was looking dangerous.
After Younis Khan and Afridi fell in quick successions, the pressure mounted. Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Malek tried to transform the complexion of the game with a fighting 94-run partnership in 123 balls.
Once again Fleming pulled his team back into the game. He caught Yousuf off Bond for 71 and masterminded the fall of Malek for 52 to make it a memorable day for him.
Shane Bond supported his skipper by scalping three prized wickets.
Scoreboard
New Zealand
L. Vincent b Gul 3
S. Fleming c and b Malik 80
N. Astle c Younis b Naved 15
P. Fulton lbw b Iftikhar 7
S. Styris c Iftikhar b Gul 86
J. Oram c Gul b Razzaq 31
B. McCullum c Malik b Razzaq 27
J. Franklin not out 9
D. Vettori not out 0
Extras: (lb8, nb1, w7) 16
Total (for seven wickets) 274
Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-23, 3-60, 4-168, 5-220, 6-254, 7-270
Bowling: Naved 8-0-44-1, Gul 9-1-47-2 (w3), Iftikhar 8-2-41-1, Razzaq 10-1-60-2 (w1), Afridi 10-0-49-0, Malik 5-0-25-1.
Pakistan:
M Hafeez c McCullum b Oram 43
I Farhat c Mills b Bond 6
Y Khan c Vincent b Mills 2
M Yousuf c Fleming b Bond 71
S Afridi c Bond b Oram 4
S Malek c Astle b Vettori 52
A Razzaq c Franklin b Bond 6
K Akmal c Fleming b Mills 16
R Naved c McCullum b Franklin 1
U ar Gul run out 8
R Iftikhar not out 0
Extras: (lb5, nb4, w5) 14
Total 223
Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-45, 3-65, 4-83, 5-177, 6-195, 7-202, 8-205, 9-223.
Bowling: Mills 7.3-1-38-2 (nb2), Bond 10-0-45-3 (nb1, w3), Franklin 9-0-47-1 (nb1, w2), Oram 8-1-25-2, Vettori 10-0-52-1, Astle 2-0-11-0
