Karachi : In the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 60 runs. Chasing 321 runs, the national team could only score 260 runs. In the match played in Karachi,
New Zealand batted first and scored 320 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in the stipulated 50 overs thanks to centuries from Will Young and Tom Latham, in response to which the national team was bundled out for 260 runs in 47.2 overs. In pursuit of the target, the national team faced difficulties from the beginning and continued to move the scoreboard very slowly.
In the absence of Fakhar Zaman, Saud Shakeel opened the innings with Babar Azam. Saud Shakeel was dismissed after scoring 6 runs off 19 balls, after which captain Muhammad Rizwan came out to bat and he too proved to be a guest of only 3 runs off 14 balls. Later, Fakhar Zaman came out to bat and could only score 24 runs off 41 balls, after which Salman Ali Agha showed some resistance but was dismissed after playing an innings of 42 runs off 28 balls. Babar Azam, who was a slow batsman from the beginning of the match, seemed to be in trouble until he was dismissed. He scored a half-century but could not get his team out of trouble. He was dismissed for 64 runs off 90 balls at a strike rate of 71.
Khushdil Shah also tried his best to save the match but by then it was too late. Khushdil scored 69 runs off 49 balls with the help of a six and 10 fours. Shaheen Shah Afridi, 14, Naseem Shah 13 and Haris Rauf were dismissed for 19 runs. For New Zealand, captain Mitchell Santner, and Will O’Rourke took 3, 3, Matt Henry 2 and Michael Bracewell,
Nathan Smith took one wicket each. Earlier, national team captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and decided to field. Pakistan’s first victory was given by spinner Abrar Ahmed and clean bowled Devon Conway, who scored 10 runs on a total score of 39. In the next over, Naseem Shah sent Kane Williamson to the pavilion after getting caught by captain Rizwan behind the wickets for just one run, Daryl Mitchell scored 10 runs and was caught by Shaheen Shah Afridi off the ball of Haris Rauf and returned to the pavilion.
After the first 3 wickets fell early, the Kiwi batting line took control, Will Young and Tom Latham established a crucial partnership of 118 runs to consolidate the team’s position, Will Young was dismissed after playing an innings of 107 runs with the help of a six and 12 fours.
Later, Tom Latham also completed his brilliant century, his innings included 3 sixes and 10 fours, he was not out after scoring 118 runs off 104 balls. Glenn Phillips also completed his half-century while batting aggressively, he scored 61 runs off 38 balls, which included 4 sixes and 3 fours. For the national team, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah took 2 wickets each, while Mohammad Abrar took one wicket. Pakistani squad
Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Tayeb Tahir, Salman Ali Agha, Khushdil Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf;
New Zealand’s squad consists of Will Young, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Neatham Smith, Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke.
119 matches have been played between the two teams so far, in which Pakistan has a heavy lead, the national team has played in 61 matches while New Zealand has won 54 matches, one match was tied and 3 matches proved to be inconclusive.
