However, among the teams that have remained in the top four consistently, going hard early in the innings has been a common factor. Rohit Sharma, David Warner, Quinton de Kock and Rachin Ravindra have all ensured their teams have had an edge with audacious stroke play in the first 10 overs.
For Pakistan, though, this had been a struggle for long. After the first four World Cup games, they had gone more than 1100 deliveries without hitting a six in the powerplay.
That sequence was finally broken in the fifth game, against Afghanistan.
Sure, it's possible to maintain a high strike-rate even without hitting sixes, but clearing the rope does send a message to the opposition and puts them on the back foot.
After winning their first two games and losing the next four, Pakistan were in a desperate situation. They needed a change in approach, someone who could take the initiative and give them a head start.
And in Fakhar Zaman they found the saviour.
The left-hander hit a 74-ball 81 against Bangladesh and an unbeaten 126 off 81 balls against New Zealand on Saturday. Two must-win matches, two match-winning performances. At the end of the New Zealand game, hit by rain and decided on the rain-rule, Rohit Sharma and David Warner led the list of leading six-hitters in the tournament. They both had 20 maximums, facing 336 and 383 balls respectively.
Denne historien er fra November 06, 2023-utgaven av Hindustan Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 06, 2023-utgaven av Hindustan Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Palestinian PM Resigns Citing 'New Reality' Of War In Gaza
The United States and other powers have called for a reformed Palestinian Authority to take charge of all Palestinian territories after the end of war
Future Perfect: The Kids Are All Right
Gill and Jurel hold out promise by simplifying a challenging chase to help India seal series
Akshay feels 'blessed' to have worked with OG Ramayan cast
Director Akshay K Agarwal shot a music video, Humare Ram Aaye Hai, with the cast of the 1987 TV show, Ramayanactors Arun Govil, Dipika Chikhlia and Sunil Lahri - in Ayodhya recently.
Musk's firm gets nod for Sat Net; joins Jio, Bharti
Starlink, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has been allowed to offer satellite broadband services in India, two officials aware of the development said.
A temple, 169 years in the making
Through decades of design and reworks, hurdles in engineering and construction, HT pieces together how the grandeur of the Ram Temple was reclaimed
'Political interference' forces Vihari to quit Andhra cricket
After Andhra bowed out of the Ranji Trophy at the quarter-final stage with a four-run defeat to Madhya Pradesh in Indore on Monday, senior batter Hanuma Vihari launched a scathing attack on the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA), saying he will never turn up for the state again.
Shafali, Kapp lead Capitals to a 9-wicket win over Warriorz
A blazing fifty by Shafali Verma (64₹, 43 balls) helped Delhi Capitals make a mockery of a target of 120 and open their account in the second edition of the Women's Premier League (WPL).
Making 'unbelievable things believable', the Ayhika way
The India No. 7 was an inspired pick for the world team event and she repaid the faith, beating the Chinese world No.1
'Connected TVs to reach 45 mn by 2024-end in India'
With improvement in broadband penetration, Indian households are increasingly opting for connected or addressable TVs.
India chip strategy makes progress as $21 billion in proposals received
The Indian government, after years of watching from the sidelines of the chips race, now has to evaluate $21 billion of semiconductor proposals and divvy up taxpayer support between foreign chipmakers, local champions or some combination of the two.