The hosts and the reigning champions are in action against the Black Caps in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener in Karachi.
Chasing a competitive target of 321, the host nation lost opener Saud Shakeel in the fourth over of the chase after he slashed one off Will O’Rourke straight to Matt Henry at third man. An unbelievable catch from Glenn Phillips at backward point saw Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan walk back to the dugout for just three runs.
New Zeland’s bowlers showed resilience throughout the powerplay, leaving Pakistan tottering at 22/2 at the end of the first 10 overs.
Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam took over the reins from then on, guarding both ends of the crease with their defensive strokeplay to pull Pakistan back.
With New Zealand’s back against the wall after early wickets from Pakistan, opener Will Young and wicketkeeper-batter Tom Latham notched centuries as the Black Caps posted a daunting total of 320/5 in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener.
The Kiwis were toiling at 73/3 when Young combined alongside Latham to add 118 runs for the fourth wicket.
Young looked at ease in the middle as he found boundaries at regular intervals to ease down the pressure on the Kiwis after an early flurry of wickets fo the hosts. En route to his fourth ODI century, Young pumped 11 fours and one maximum.
The opener’s innings (107 of 113) however, came to an end as Naseem Shah induced a miscued shot and substitute fielder Faheem Ashraf latched onto the catch.
Following Young’s dismissal, Latham went on to stitch a strong fifth-wicket stand alongside Glenn Phillips – compiling 124 runs for the fifth wicket as New Zealand finished on a strong note.
Latham also went on to score a sensational hundred, finishing with 118 off 104 deliveries, comprising of 10 and three sixes.
Earlier, Abrar Ahmed and Pakistan quicks had handed the hosts early advantage with three breakthroughs inside the first 16 overs.
With Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan having won toss and opted to bowl first, spinner Abrar Ahmed broke the deadlock in the eighth over of the powerplay, cleaning up Devon Conway with a ripper of a delivery.
In the next over, pacer Naseem Shah got rid of the Black Caps batting talisman Kane Williamson, who lasted for only two deliveries before edging one behind to Rizwan.
Haris Rauf then got into the act, removing Daryl Mitchell with a clever change in pace as the New Zealand right-hander miscued the ball straight to the fielder at mid-on.
The breakthroughs helped the hosts pull the momentum in their favor, albeit momentarily, after Young had combined alongside fellow Kiwi opener Devon Conway to get the Kiwis up and running in Karachi with a streak of boundaries.
The home side were also given an early scare after Fakhar Zaman was pulled off the field after a fielding attempt in the deep saw him in discomfort.
“Fakhar Zaman is being assessed and examined for a muscular sprain and further updates will be provided in due course,” the PCB said in a statement.
The two teams had recently featured in the Tri-Nation Series final at the same venue, where the Black Caps emerged victorious, going unbeaten against the hosts and South Africa.
Playing at home, hosting an ICC tournament for the first time since 1996, defending champions Pakistan have high hopes pinned for the eight-team tournament.
In the previous edition of the tournament back in 2017, Sarfaraz Ahmed had led the team to a historic title win, besting India in the summit clash.
Playing XI:
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
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 ORourke
