Batting first, Pakistan had a difficult start, scoring slowly and losing two wickets for just 14 runs, but recovered to 127-4 as they attempted to set Zimbabwe a tricky target.

Misbah-ul-Haq ended his innings on 73 and a late flurry from Wahab Riaz to score 54, allowed Pakistan to set a total of 235 from their 50 overs. 

The Zimbabwean reply began in a similar vein to Pakistan's innings with a loss of early wickets building pressure, however a half-century from Brendan Taylor and 35 runs from Elton Chigumbura, who was batting despite an injury sustained fielding, put them in touch with Pakistan's total.

They ultimately proved unsuccessful, losing their final two wickets in the final over of a nail-biting match to finish on 215 all out, 20 runs short of victory.

Meanwhile in the day's other match, Sri Lanka recorded their third win of the World Cup with a comprehensive nine wicket victory over England in Wellington, New Zealand.

England had started the day positively, choosing to bat after winning the toss, before their opening batsmen Ian Bell and Moeen Ali started to build a strong base for the innings with quick early runs.

Kumar Sangakkara and Lahiru Thirimanne scored centuries as Sri Lanka breezed past England ©Getty Images


However a mini-collapse, which has become a feature of England's innings at this World Cup, proved a setback, but Joe Root was able to stabilise the situation on his way to becoming the youngest Englishman to record a World Cup century, with the 24-year-old eventually out for 121.

In the closing stages of the England innings, arguably their best batting performance of the tournament, Jos Buttler scored a rapid 39, to see England end on 309-6.

It looked likely to prove an imposing total to chase down, which made Sri Lanka's response all the more impressive, with Lahiru Thirimanne and Tillakaratne Dilshan moving to 100 before the latter was caught for 46 runs by England captain Eoin Morgan.

The opening stand proved a great base for the Sri Lankan innings to be built upon, as Thirimanne and the new batsman Kumar Sangakkara comfortably saw off the challenge of the England bowlers, on their way to scores of 139 and 117 not out respectively, as Sri Lanka made 312 for the loss of only one wicket to seal the win.

With the defeat, England will now need to beat Bangladesh and Afghanistan in their remaining fixtures to qualify for the quarter-finals, while Sri Lanka look set to join New Zealand in the last eight as they sit second after four matches.

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