Pakistan’s chase
New Zealand secured a commanding 60-run victory over Pakistan in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Chasing a target of 321, Pakistan were bowled out for 261, despite a fighting knock from Khushdil Shah. New Zealand’s disciplined bowling attack, led by Matt Henry and William O’Rourke, ensured a strong start to their campaign.
New Zealand set Pakistan 321 runs target
Earlier, centuries from Tom Latham and Will Young guided New Zealand to a formidable total of 320/5 against Pakistan in the opening match of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday.
Opting to field first after winning the toss, Pakistan’s bowlers made early inroads as New Zealand struggled to find stability. Mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed provided the first breakthrough, clean-bowling Devon Conway (10) in the eighth over.
Naseem Shah then dealt a significant blow to the Blackcaps, dismissing captain Kane Williamson for just one run in the following over. The pressure mounted further when Haris Rauf removed Daryl Mitchell (10) with a sharp short delivery, leaving New Zealand reeling at 73/3 in the 17th over.
Pakistan are set a target of 321 in the opening match of ICC #ChampionsTrophy 🎯#PAKvNZ | #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/zZQcdVuU4B
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 19, 2025
With Pakistan in control, Young and Latham staged a remarkable recovery, adding 118 runs for the fourth wicket. The pair rotated the strike well, frustrating the Pakistani bowlers and steadily shifting the momentum in New Zealand’s favour.
Young led the charge with a well-crafted 107 off 113 deliveries, featuring 12 fours and a six, before Naseem Shah struck again in the 38th over to end his innings.
Despite losing his partner, Latham continued his stellar form and anchored the innings till the end. He remained unbeaten on 118 from 104 balls, smashing 10 boundaries and three sixes.
Latham found strong support in Glenn Phillips, who launched an aggressive counterattack to keep Pakistan on the back foot. Phillips’ quickfire 61 off 39 deliveries, laced with three fours and four sixes, propelled New Zealand beyond the 320-run mark.
Among Pakistan’s bowlers, Naseem Shah (2/63) and Haris Rauf (2/83) were the most successful, while Abrar Ahmed returned with figures of 1/47 in 10 overs.
However, Shaheen Shah Afridi (0/68), Khushdil Shah (0/40 in seven overs), and Salman Ali Agha (0/15 in three overs) failed to take any wicket.
Pakistan made one change from their last playing XI in the tri-nation series final, bringing in Haris Rauf for Faheem Ashraf. New Zealand also made an adjustment, with Matt Henry replacing Jacob Duffy in the lineup, as confirmed by Mitchell Santner.
The ICC Champions Trophy, regarded as the second-most prestigious one-day international tournament after the World Cup, is being hosted in Pakistan for the first time in nearly three decades. The event runs until 9 March, featuring the world’s top teams vying for the coveted title.
Latham scores his 8th century
New Zealand’s wicket-keeper batsman Tom Latham continued his form scoring 8th century in the inaugural match of the Champions Trophy against the host Pakistan. Latham century came at a crucial time after the collapse of a top order. Earlier New Zealand opener Will Young scored a hundred before becoming the victim of Naseem Shah. Latham played a smooth inning laced with 9 fours and 4 maximums. Hard hitter Glenn Phillip is unbeaten on 47. New Zealand are 283 for 4 in 47 overs.
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New Zealand opener Will Young scores century
New Zealand opener Will Young steering his side to a formidable total, scored his fourth century against the host Pakistan in an inaugural match of the Champions Trophy. Young played a measured innings, that did not start smoothly, particularly with wickets at the other end, but a tidy ODI hundred, his first of four overseas, has New Zealand in a sound position. Young completed his centuray sweeping to Abrar in 35th Over. He is unbeaten 103 off 111 balls with his partner Tom Latham 53 off 62 balls.
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Earlier, Fakhar Zaman, who had to leave the field just two balls into the match, is currently being evaluated by the PCB’s medical team. “Fakhar Zaman is undergoing assessment for a muscular sprain, and further updates will be shared as needed,” the PCB stated.
Earlier, Harris Rauf in his third over sends Daryl Mitchell back to the pavilion. Mitchell who scored 57 in the final of tri-series against the host last week only managed to score 10 off 24 balls. Opener Will Young with 5 fours and one six is on the crease with 52 runs facing 60 balls. Wicket keeper batter Tom Latham scoring four of five is in the middle to partner Young. New Zealand are 94 for three.
Regular strikes by the bowlers ⚡
Pakistan continue to apply pressure on New Zealand after wickets from Abrar, Naseem and Haris 💫#PAKvNZ | #ChampionsTrophy | #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/1wf217YI5o
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 19, 2025
Earlier, Pakistan’s Abrar has dismissed New Zealand’s Devon Conway after contributing ten runs to total at National Cricket Stadium Karachi on Wednesday. Kane Williamson was dismissed by Naseem Shah after scoring just one run.
Earlier, injury scare for Pakistan’s Fakhar after Pakistan Opted to Bowl first.
Pakistan have won the toss and elected to field first against New Zealand in inaugural match of Champions Trophy 2025 at National Stadium Karachi.
Skipper Muhammad Rizwan said that conditions are good and Pakistan will not repeat previous mistakes made in the tri-series played at the same venue.
The eight-team tournament will be played across three venues in Pakistan – Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi – as well as in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 19 February to 9 March.
Pakistan Squad: Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Saud Shakeel, Naseem Shah, Tayyab Tahir, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Kamran Ghulam, Muhammad Hasnain, Usman Khan, Haris Rauf.
🚨 TOSS & PLAYING XI 🚨
Pakistan win the toss and opt to bowl first 🏏
Our team for Match 1 of the ICC #ChampionsTrophy 2025 🇵🇰#PAKvNZ | #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/SnAfRzZtsK
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 19, 2025
New Zealand Squad: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young.
Our XI for Champions Trophy Game 1! Batting first in Karachi after a toss win for Pakistan. Watch play LIVE in NZ on @skysportnz 📺 LIVE scoring | https://t.co/cVlkusQf3c 📲 #ChampionsTrophy #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/ItFsfbi5Mb
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 19, 2025
This tournament holds special significance as it marks the return of a major ICC event to Pakistan after nearly three decades.
Pre-Match Developments
In a significant blow to New Zealand’s campaign, fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out of the tournament due to a foot injury sustained during a warm-up match against Afghanistan.
Ferguson experienced pain in his right foot after bowling a spell, and medical assessments confirmed his unavailability for the remainder of the tournament.
To fill the void, New Zealand has called up Kyle Jamieson from the Canterbury Kings, who recently returned to domestic cricket after recovering from a back injury.
Head coach Gary Stead expressed disappointment over Ferguson’s absence but highlighted Jamieson’s pace and bounce as suitable replacements for the conditions in Pakistan.
Tournament Overview
The Champions Trophy 2025 features the top eight ODI teams divided into two groups:
Group A: Bangladesh, India, New Zealand, and Pakistan
Group B: Afghanistan, Australia, England, and South Africa
Matches are primarily scheduled in Pakistan.
The tournament will culminate with the final in Lahore on March 9, unless India qualifies, in which case the final will be relocated to Dubai.
Pakistan vs New Zealand: Opening match preview
Pakistan, the defending champions from the 2017 edition, are eager to begin their campaign on a strong note. Led by captain Mohammad Rizwan, the team boasts a blend of experienced players and emerging talents, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Fakhar Zaman.
New Zealand, known for their resilience, will pose a formidable challenge despite the setback of losing Ferguson. The Black Caps’ squad features seasoned players like Kane Williamson, Tom Latham, and the newly included Kyle Jamieson.
Key players to watch
Babar Azam (Pakistan): Renowned for his elegant batting style, Azam is pivotal to Pakistan’s top order.
Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan): A left-arm fast bowler known for his pace and swing, Afridi’s early breakthroughs can destabilize opposing batting line-ups.
Kane Williamson (New Zealand): The experienced captain and batsman provides stability and leadership, essential for anchoring New Zealand’s innings.
Kyle Jamieson (New Zealand): Recently returning from injury, Jamieson’s height and bowling prowess add a new dimension to New Zealand’s attack.
Head to head
As of February 19, 2025, Pakistan and New Zealand have faced each other in 116 One Day Internationals (ODIs). Pakistan leads the head-to-head record with 61 victories, while New Zealand has secured 51 wins. There has been 1 tied match, and 3 encounters concluded with no result.
In ICC Champions Trophy history, the two teams have met twice, with each team winning once. Their most recent Champions Trophy encounter was during the 2009/10 edition, where New Zealand emerged victorious.
