Karachi: New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 60 runs in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi. Tom Latham and Will Young smashed centuries, while New Zealand’s bowlers delivered a strong performance to secure a dominant victory.
New Zealand’s Batting Brilliance
Pakistan won the toss and opted to field first. The decision seemed to work initially as they dismissed Devon Conway (10) and Kane Williamson (1) within the first 10 overs. Abrar Ahmed bowled Conway, while Naseem Shah sent Williamson back to the pavilion.
Daryl Mitchell (10) put up a brief fight before being dismissed by Haris Rauf. At 73-3, New Zealand needed a solid partnership, and they got one through Will Young and Tom Latham. The duo stitched together a crucial 118-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Will Young played a fantastic knock, scoring 107 off 113 balls, hitting 12 fours and a six. He was eventually dismissed by Naseem Shah, but his innings had already laid a strong foundation. Tom Latham took charge afterward, hammering an unbeaten 118 off 104 balls. His innings featured 10 fours and three sixes.
Glenn Phillips added a fiery 61 off just 39 deliveries, striking four sixes and three fours before falling to Haris Rauf in the final over. New Zealand posted a challenging total of 321-6 in 50 overs.
For Pakistan, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf picked up two wickets each, conceding 63 and 83 runs, respectively. Abrar Ahmed took one wicket for 47 runs in his 10 overs.
Pakistan’s Struggle in the Chase
Chasing 321, Pakistan’s innings never gained momentum. The team suffered an early blow as Saud Shakeel was caught by Matt Henry off Will O’Rourke. Captain Muhammad Rizwan followed soon after, falling to Glenn Phillips, leaving Pakistan at a fragile 22-2 after 10 overs.
Fakhar Zaman, who batted at No. 4 after temporarily leaving the field earlier, tried to stabilize the innings alongside Babar Azam. Their 47-run partnership was slow, adding pressure on the middle order. Fakhar’s dismissal triggered a collapse.
Salman Ali Agha provided a brief spark with an aggressive 42 off 28 balls, hitting six fours and a six. However, his dismissal by Nathan Smith left Pakistan reeling at 127-4.
Babar Azam fought hard, scoring 64 off 90 balls, but struggled to accelerate. Tayyab Tahir managed just one run before being dismissed. Khushdil Shah later played a counter-attacking knock of 69 off 49 balls, hitting several boundaries, but Pakistan remained far from the target.
Will O’Rourke dismissed Khushdil in the 44th over, all but sealing the match for New Zealand. Pakistan’s tailenders, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah, tried to resist, but they were eventually bowled out, falling 60 runs short.
New Zealand’s Bowlers Seal the Win
New Zealand’s bowlers delivered a clinical performance, with Will O’Rourke and Mitchell Santner taking three wickets each. Matt Henry chipped in with two wickets, ensuring Pakistan never built a threatening partnership.
Tom Latham was named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 118 and leadership on the field.
Looking Ahead
New Zealand has made a strong start to their Champions Trophy campaign, while Pakistan must regroup before their next game. With their batting struggling under pressure, Pakistan will need a better approach to stay in contention in the tournament.
