ICC Champions Trophy 2025: PAK vs NZ Highlights: New Zealand Beat Pakistan By 60 Runs: ICC Champions Trophy 2025 commenced with an electrifying fight between New Zealand and Pakistan at the National Stadium, Karachi. The name that appeared in the contest was of New Zealand, led by Tom Latham, over the defending champions by 60 runs. New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first, and they made it count as the top order of New Zealand put up a dominating show.
Champions Trophy 2025: PAK vs NZ Match Summary
Both opener Will Young (107) and Tom Latham (118) innovated a terrific partnership of 180 runs, ripping into bits the bowling attack of Pakistan. Young played his wicket quite well, while Latham lauded himself with aggressive stroke plays. A partnership such as theirs would provide a considerable total to challenge Pakistan. Even when they tried hard early on to contain runs, Pakistan’s bowlers found it challenging to break key partnerships. Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf made a few strikes in the death overs, but New Zealand finally scored 320 runs for five wickets in just 50 overs.
Pakistan’s Chase: A Crumbling Start and Mid-innings Collapse
Known for their chasing abilities, Pakistan succumbed early in their innings to New Zealand’s bowlers, who kept a very tight leash on things. The early blows saw the two openers, Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman, go in quick succession. Captain Babar Azam (64) came in as the anchor for the innings but was also dismissed for a rather low score, adding to Pakistan’s woes.
An attempt was made by Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed to settle the innings by coming together, but Lockie Ferguson’s fiery spell shattered the middle order of Pakistan. Mitchell Santner and Will O’Rourke worked hard to break into those key partnerships. Mitchell Santner, the standout bowler, took 3 wickets and ensured New Zealand was quite in control. Pakistan was all out for 260, missing the target by 60 runs.
Playing 11 of New Zealand and Pakistan
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(c), Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, William O’Rourke.
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(w/c), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
