KARACHI: Centuries from Tom Latham and Will Young, combined with an impressive bowling display, propelled New Zealand to a 60-run win over Pakistan in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi.
Chasing a challenging target of 321, Pakistan struggled to build momentum, losing wickets at regular intervals.
Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel opened the innings in the absence of Fakhar Zaman, who had to wait at least 25 minutes before batting due to his time off the field during Pakistan’s bowling.
Saud Shakeel departed early, caught by Matt Henry off Will O’Rourke, while skipper Muhammad Rizwan fell cheaply to Glenn Phillips off O’Rourke’s bowling, leaving Pakistan in trouble at 22-2 after 10 overs—their lowest home ODI powerplay total.
Fakhar Zaman, batting at No. 4, partnered with Babar Azam for a 47-run stand, but their slow scoring rate increased the pressure. Fakhar’s dismissal triggered a collapse, though Salman Ali Agha provided a brief spark with a quickfire 42 off 28 balls, including six fours and a six. However, his dismissal by Nathan Smith left Pakistan at 127-4.
Tayyab Tahir failed to make an impact, scoring just a single, while Babar Azam reached his fifty before departing for 64 off 90 balls with the score at 153-6.
Khushdil Shah, batting lower down the order, fought back with an impressive 69 off 49 balls, but Pakistan ultimately fell short by 60 runs. Will O’Rourke dismissed him in the 44th over, leaving New Zealand just two wickets away from victory.
Pakistan’s tailenders, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah, showed resilience, but their efforts were not enough to change the outcome.
For New Zealand, Will O’Rourke and Mitchell Santner claimed three wickets each, while Matt Henry picked up two. Tom Latham was named Player of the Match for his outstanding century.
New Zealand’s Innings:
Opting to bat first, New Zealand faced early setbacks as Devon Conway (10) was bowled by Abrar Ahmed in the eighth over, followed by Kane Williamson (1), who was caught behind off Naseem Shah, reducing New Zealand to 40-2.
Daryl Mitchell (10) added 33 runs with Will Young before being dismissed by Haris Rauf. At 73-3, Tom Latham joined Young to rebuild the innings, forging a crucial 118-run partnership.
Young reached his century, scoring 107 off 113 balls with 12 fours and a six, before Naseem Shah dismissed him with New Zealand at 191-4. Meanwhile, Latham continued his dominance, reaching an unbeaten 118 off 104 deliveries, featuring 10 fours and three sixes.
Glenn Phillips provided late fireworks with a blistering 61 at a strike rate of 156, hitting four sixes and three fours before falling to Haris Rauf in the final over.
For Pakistan, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf took two wickets each, conceding 63 and 83 runs, respectively, while Abrar Ahmed finished with 1-47 in his 10 overs.
