Pakistan (PAK) took on New Zealand (NZ) in the first match of the Champions Trophy 2025 on Wednesday, February 19, at the National Stadium in Karachi. New Zealand scored 320 runs for the loss of five wickets in 50 overs. Pakistan were bundled out for 260 runs and lost the match by 60 runs.
New Zealand will now take on Bangladesh in their next match on Monday, February 24. Pakistan will be up against India on Sunday, February 23.
Will Young and Tom Latham finish the day with a century each
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl. New Zealand lost their first two wickets for just 40 runs. The Blackcaps lost another wicket when they posted a total of 73 runs on the board. Will Young and Tom Latham added 118 runs for the fourth wicket.
Both the batters scored a century each for the team. Young scored 107 runs off 113 deliveries, while Latham remained unbeaten on 118 runs off 104 deliveries. Glenn Phillips provided the finishing touch with his knock of 61 runs off 39 deliveries.
New Zealand finished with 320 runs for the loss of five wickets. Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf took two wickets each for Pakistan.
William O’Rourke was the best bowler for New Zealand
Pakistan started on a similar note as they lost their first two wickets for just 22 runs. Fakhar Zaman was the next to get dismissed and scored 24 runs off 41 deliveries. Agha Salman and Babar Azam added 58 runs for the fourth wicket.
Salman was dismissed in the 31st over and Pakistan lost the wicket of Tayyab Tahir in the next over. Babar made 64 runs off 90 deliveries before he was out in the 34th over. Khushdil Shah was another batter player who scored a half-century for Pakistan. He made 69 runs off 49 deliveries.
No other batter apart from Saman, Babar, and Khushdil Shah managed to score more than 30 runs for the team. Pakistan were bundled out for 260 runs and suffered a loss in the opening game by 60 runs.
William O’Rourke and Mitchell Santner took three wickets each for New Zealand. Matt Henry picked two wickets as well.
Best Batting Performance in PAK vs NZ, Match 1 of Champions Trophy 2025
Tom Latham (New Zealand)
- Won the Player of the Match award.
- Remained unbeaten on 118 runs off 104 deliveries,
- It was his first century against Pakistan.
Will Young (New Zealand)
- The opener made 107 runs off 113 deliveries.
- It was his fourth century in ODIs.
- Young has now made one century and two half-centuries against Pakistan.
Best Bowling Performance in PAK vs NZ, Match 1 of Champions Trophy 2025
William O’Rourke (New Zealand)
- O’Rourke was one of the pick of the bowlers for New Zealand.
- He took three wickets for 47 runs in nine overs.
Mitchell Santner (New Zealand)
- Santner led the Blackcaps perfectly.
- He took three wickets for 66 runs in 10 overs.
