Latham, Young stars with the bat as New Zealand thumped Pakistan. The ICC Champions Trophy 2025

 

    File: Fakhar Zaman and New Zealand players credit -ICC

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 started last day when host Pakistan was outclassed by the dominant Black Caps once again. It is New Zealand's third win in an ODI against Pakistan within the last 10 days as they maintained their unbeaten record against them in The ICC Champions Trophy events. It was a day and night match at the National Stadium Karachi.

 In this article, we will discuss the significance of this match, Game-changing moments, Key performances, and the final results.

 

Significance of the match

The tournament curtain raiser was a high-octane match as both the teams wanted to give a statement to the cricket world and positively start the event on a winning note. The Champions trophy format provides the least margin of error and any defeat means you are at the door of elimination. So, The importance of this match was too much for both the teams and it was expected that both the teams would play some fearless cricket.

Team News

Matt Henry was back into the New Zealand side after being rested for the last game. Except for him, New Zealand had opted for the same playing 11 which had won the final match of the Tri-Nation Series against Pakistan a few days ago. For Pakistan Harris Rauf made his recovery from injury and he was back into the playing 11. Rachin Ravindra could not recover from the injury he suffered in the 1st match of the Tri-Nation series against Pakistan so Devon Convey was picked up as a replacement for him.

1st Innings and Key Moments

Pakistan Captain Muhammad Rizwan won the toss and elected to ball first on a track that was looking quite decent and dry. New Zealand openers Young and Convey started carefully as Pakistan bowlers were unable to control their line and length to put any pressure earlier. New Zealand lost back-to-back wickets with the courtesy of a great bowling by Abrar Ahmed and Naseem Shah. Convey and Williamson got out without having any significant contribution. Pakistan bowlers seized the opportunity and got rid of Daryl Mitchel also at the team score of 77. Tom Latham and Will Young started to rebuild the innings. 

Pakistan team had a bowler short as they were playing an extra batsman. so this strategy did not work at all as expected when the pressure was on they had to introduce part-timers Khushdil Shah and Salman Ali Agha to make up for the 5th bowler overs. Although they did not leak too many runs they couldn't find a break breakthrough as a result both the batters got settled.

Both the batters made full use of the opportunity and completed their hundreds. Due to the lack of quality spinners and 5th bowler Pakistan was unable to get wickets in the middle phase. So, New Zealand had the perfect base to launch in the last 10 overs, As they took Pakistan bowlers to the cleaners and eventually New Zealand scored 320 runs in their 50 overs. Which was well above the par score in the given conditions.

    Photo: Glenn Philips and Tom Latham credit-ICC

Tom Latham was the top scorer he scored 118 off 104 balls whereas Will Young scored 107 off 113 balls. For Pakistan, Naseem Shah was the pick of the bowlers he got 2 for 63 in his 10 overs.

2nd Innings and Key Moments

Saud Shakeel Opened the innings for Pakistan with Babar Azam as Fakhar Zaman was injured earlier. Both the batter's approach toward chasing the total was quite questionable as they played a lot of dot balls. Saud Shakeel eventually got out after scoring 6 runs off 19 balls. Muhammad Rizwan joined Babar Azam but both the batters failed to build any momentum and neither tried to get any momentum. Rizwan miseries ended courtesy of an excellent catch by Phillips at backward point. As a result, while chasing 321 Pakistan was left stranded at 21/2 in 10 overs. Injured Fakhar Zaman tried to get some momentum in his innings but failed to do so and he was out at the team score of 69/3 in the 21st over. Salman Ali Agha played an attacking knock with his aggressive batting whereas Babar Azam's approach was quite ridiculous as he continued eating dot balls and failed to get any momentum. 

Khushdil Shah and Salman Ali Agha played some excellent shots but it was too late as the required rate was already beyond 10 runs per over. Khushdil Shah scored an impressive counterattacking 69 runs off 49 balls where as Salman Ali Agha scored 42 off 28 balls. Except these two no other batter could excel in the given conditions as Pakistan bundled out to 260 in the 47th over of the innings.

    Photo: Saud Shakeel, O'Rourke, Santner and other Players credit-ICC

Key Performances of the match

1st Innings

• Tom Latham scored 118 off 104 balls
• Will Young scored 107 off 113 balls
• Glenn Philips scored 61 off 39 balls

    Photo: Young and Latham Credit-ICC

2nd Innings

• Khushdil Shah scored 69 off 49 balls
• Salman Agha scored 42 off 28 balls
• William O'Rourke took 3 for 47 in his 9 overs.

Where the match was won?

New Zealand batters scored 115 runs in the last 10 overs, that was the moment when they were able to get a total, It was well above the par score on that track. That the the phase that took the game away from the hosts.

Who was the Player of the Match?

Tom Latham was handed a well-deserved Man of the Match award for his match-winning ton of 118 off just 104 balls. 

What's next for both Teams?

Now Pakistan will head to Dubai where they will face their arch-rivals India in a must-win game on February 23, 2025. Whereas New Zealand will face Bangladesh at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on February 24, 2025.

    Photo: Team India and Pakistan Team along with match officials Credit-ICC

So, What are your thoughts? Who will win the India-Pakistan match on February 23, 2025? And who will win the ICC Champions Trophy 2025? Let us know in the comments.