What a start to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. New Zealand beat the hosts Pakistan by 60 runs in the opening encounter at National Stadium, Karachi. Courtesy of two tons – Will Young’s 107 off 113 balls and Tom Latham’s 118 off 104 balls, New Zealand smashed 320 for 5 after being put into bat by Pakistan who won the toss. In reply, Pakistan never got going as Kiwis tightened the screws with their incisive bowling. While Khushdil Shah tried his best to keep Pakistan in the hunt with a 49-ball 69, New Zealand seized the initiative by bowling out the hosts for 260. Tom Latham was declared Player of the Match for his brilliant hundred.
Rizwan Wins the Toss, Elects to Field First Against NZ in ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Pakistan skipper Mohd. Rizwan won the toss in the opening encounter and decided to field first weighing in the evening dew as a reason for the chase. New Zealand openers Devon Conway and Will Young came out with a positive intent by notching up 39 in the first seven overs. But as things looked ominous for Pakistan, leg spinner Abrar Ahmed knocked Conway over. Soon, Naseem Shah got the big fish Kane Williamson for just one, making him edge to an away going delivery to Rizwan behind the wicket. While Daryl Mitchell looked to steer New Zealand ahead in the company of Will Young, who was looking in good nick, the middle order batter was struggling to force the pace and was holed out playing a pull short to Shaheen Shah Afridi at mid-on. It was 79 for 3 and Pakistan were calling all the shots.
Young, Latham Put Blackcaps Back on Track with a 118-run Stand
Will Young found an experienced and able ally in the form of Tom Latham. The duo kept pushing for ones and twos and hitting odd boundaries in between. Be it facing fast bowlers or spinners, these two showed great deal of urgency to push New Zealand ahead. Soon Will Young registered his fourth ODI ton. Boy, hasn’t he delivered a punch? However, Naseem Shah got him out for 107. A tremendous knock that fetched him 12 fours and a six. The fourth-wicket stand was broken with New Zealand reaching 191.
Latham, Philips Notch Up a Hundred-run Stand in Just 60 Balls in ICC Champions Trophy 2025
With the fall of Will Young’s wicket came the poster boy of New Zealand cricket, Glenn Philips. While Philips was trying to settle himself in, Tom Latham cut loose by smacking fours and sixes the moment he crossed fifty. But soon, Philips shifted gears by whacking long sixes and entertaining the capacity crowd there. Tom Latham smacked a hundred, while Philips put on a rollicking half-century. Tom smashed 10 fours and three sixes to put on 118 off 104 balls, while Philips hit 3 fours and four sixes to put on 61 off 39 balls. Haris Rauf dismissed Philips to break the 125-run stand; however, the damage was done as New Zealand reached 320 for 5.
New Zealand Strike Twice in the Powerplay
Pakistan needed a solid start, but they didn’t get that, as William ORourke dismissed Saud Shakeel and Mohd. Rizwan for 6 and 3, respectively. Glenn Philips took an absolute blinder of a catch to get rid of Rizwan. New Zealand reduced Pakistan to 21 for 2 in the first powerplay. What baffling was the Pakistan’s approach and their reluctance to score quickly on a good batting surface. Babar Azam, for strange reasons, went into the shell and made others go for the big shots. Fakhar Zaman, who came to bat at number four, looked in good touch. However, he too followed Babar by getting tied down. Michael Bracewell bowled Fakhar for 24, leaving Pakistan at 69 for 3.
Salman Agha, Babar Azam Push Pak Ahead with a 58-run Stand, But NZ Strike Two Quick Blows Soon
Salman Agha, after a couple of overs, shifted gears by going over the top. He found the gaps and boundaries at will and looked threatening for New Zealand’s perspective with a quickfire 42 off 28 balls (6 fours, 1 six). However, Nathan Smith got Agha out. Soon, Tayyab Tahir departed for just one. Babar Azam completed a half-century but could not go on much beyond. He was out sweeping Santner to Williamson who took a nice catch. Babar scored 64 off 90 balls. Looking at the loss of wickets, Khushdil Shah went berserk with a rollicking 69 off 49 balls that included 10 fours and a six. However, William ORourke dismissed the dangerous-looking Khushdil, with Pakistan still needing 91 runs. New Zealand, eventually, got Pakistan all out for 260.
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