KARACHI: Will Young and Tom Latham’s centuries and clinical bowling performance propelled New Zealand to a comprehensive victory against Pakistan by 60 runs in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener at National Bank Stadium in Karachi.
Chasing 321, Pakistan lost wickets regularly, courtesy of the Black Cap’s good bowling performance.
Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel opened the innings for Pakistan after their regular opener, Fakhar Zaman, was forced to sit out for at least 25 minutes due to leaving the field during Pakistan’s bowling.
Saud Shakeel (6) perished cheaply in a daunting chase earlier, leaving Pakistan 8-1 in the fourth over. He was caught by Matt Henry at third man off Will O’Rourke.
The skipper Muhammad Rizwan (3) also returned to the pavilion inside the first powerplay without scoring big, being caught by a screamer from Glenn Phillips off Will O’Rourke.
After the first 10 overs, Pakistan languished and could only score 22-2, their lowest total in home ODI powerplay history.
Fakhar Zaman, who was forced to bat at No. 04, joined Babar Azam in the middle, and the duo knitted a 47-run partnership but took 65 deliveries to do so, soaring the asking rate.
Pakistan was reeling 69-3 in the 21st over when Fakhar Zaman (24) departed.
Salman Ali Agha joined Babar Azam and played a blistering knock of 42 at a strike rate of 150. Agha Salman provided some hope to Pakistani fans, smashing six fours and a six before being dismissed by Nathan Smith, leaving the host 127-4 in the 31st over.
Tayyab Tahir also failed to impress, returning to the pavilion after scoring just a single. In the meantime, Babar Azam completed his fifty and eventually scored 90-ball 64 before being caught with 153 on the scoreboard.
But Khushdil Shah gave the hosts a faint hope in their chase with his blistering knock of 69 from 49 balls, which included one six and ten fours.
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He formed well-stiched partnerships with the tailenders, including Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah. Khushdil added 47 and 29 runs for the eighth and ninth wicket with Shaheen Afridi and Naseem, respectively.
He departed in the 44th over courtesy of Will O’Rourke’s good bowling.
Pakistan’s last pair, Haris Rauf and Naseem put on a valiant partnership of 31 runs off 21 balls, but it was not enough as the Kiwis secured a comfortable victory in the end.
For New Zealand, Mitchell Santner and O’Rourke were stand-out bowlers who picked up three wickets each, while Matt Henry was equally good with his two wickets.
Tom Latham was awarded the Player of the Match for his outstanding century in the opening match of the Champions Trophy 2025.
Earlier, Will Young and Tom Latham struck centuries to power New Zealand to 320-5 in their 50 overs.
Mohammad Rizwan invited New Zealand to bat first, and his bowlers proved the decision right by inflicting early damage.
Abrar Ahmed castled Devon Conway (10), while star batter Kane Williamson (1) fell prey to Naseem Shah, leaving the Black Caps struggling at 40-2.
Will Young and Daryl Mitchell (10) stitched a 33-run stand for the third wicket to stabilize the innings before Haris Rauf struck.
Following Mitchell’s wicket, Young forged a partnership of 118 runs with Tom Latham to take the team’s total to 191 inside 38 overs.
Young completed his century during the partnership. However, he fell prey to Naseem soon afterward. He departed after scoring 107 runs from 113 balls with the help of 13 boundaries, including one six.
Glenn Phillips joined Latham, and together, they wreaked havoc, smashing 125 runs from 74 balls in the fifth wicket partnership.
Phillips struck 61 runs off 39 balls with four sixes and three boundaries before he fell to Haris Rauf in the final over.
Meanwhile, Latham remained unbeaten on 118 runs from 104 balls to take his team’s total to 320-5 in their allocated 50 overs. His innings featured ten boundaries and three sixes.
Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf took two wickets for Pakistan, while Abrar Ahmed bagged one.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Tayyab Tahir, Salman Agha, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Nathan Smith, Will O’Rourke
HEAD TO HEAD
Pakistan and New Zealand have competed in a total of 118 ODI matches. Pakistan leads the head-to-head record with 61 victories, while New Zealand has won 53 matches. Additionally, three matches have ended without a result, and one match ended in a tie.
However, New Zealand have the edge in the Champions Trophy as they boast an undefeated record against the Green Shirts.
Overall ODIs: Matches 118, Pakistan 61, New Zealand 53, NR 3, Tie 1
Champions Trophy: Matches 3, Pakistan 0, New Zealand 3