Blog: New Zealand Outclass Pakistan in a Thrilling ICC Champions Trophy Encounter
In a high-octane clash at the National Stadium in Karachi, New Zealand emerged victorious against Pakistan by 60 runs in the ICC Champions Trophy 2024/25. The match was a perfect blend of explosive batting, disciplined bowling, and moments of brilliance in the field. Here’s a detailed recap of the action-packed encounter.
New Zealand’s Dominant Batting Display
New Zealand set the tone early with a commanding batting performance, posting a formidable total of 320/5 in their 50 overs. Will Young and Tom Latham were the stars of the innings, both scoring centuries. Young’s 107 off 113 balls laid the foundation, while Latham’s unbeaten 118 off 104 balls provided the finishing flourish. Glenn Phillips also chipped in with a quickfire 61 off 39 balls, including 3 fours and 4 sixes, to propel New Zealand past the 300-run mark.
Pakistan’s bowlers struggled to contain the Kiwi batters, with only Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf managing to pick up two wickets each. Shaheen Shah Afridi, despite his fiery pace, went wicketless and conceded 68 runs in his 10 overs.
Pakistan’s Valiant Chase Falls Short
Chasing a daunting target of 321, Pakistan’s innings got off to a shaky start, losing Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan early. Babar Azam fought valiantly with a gritty 64 off 90 balls, but the lack of support from the middle order hurt Pakistan’s chances. Khushdil Shah provided some late fireworks with a blistering 69 off 49 balls, but it wasn’t enough to take Pakistan over the line.
New Zealand’s bowlers were disciplined and clinical. Will O’Rourke and Mitchell Santner were the pick of the bowlers, claiming three wickets each. Matt Henry also contributed with two crucial wickets, ensuring Pakistan were bowled out for 260 in 47.2 overs.
Key Moments of the Match
- Will Young’s Century: Young’s composed knock of 107 set the platform for New Zealand’s big total.
- Tom Latham’s Unbeaten 118: Latham’s century was a masterclass in pacing an innings, especially in the death overs.
- Khushdil Shah’s Counterattack: Shah’s 69 kept Pakistan’s hopes alive, but the required run rate proved too steep.
- Santner’s Crucial Wickets: The left-arm spinner dismissed Babar Azam and Haris Rauf at critical junctures, derailing Pakistan’s chase.
Player of the Match
Tom Latham was deservedly named Player of the Match for his match-winning unbeaten century. His ability to anchor the innings and accelerate when needed was instrumental in New Zealand’s victory.
Match Summary Table
Here’s a beautifully designed table summarizing the match:
| Team | Runs | Overs | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 320/5 | 50.0 | Won by 60 runs |
| Pakistan | 260 | 47.2 |
Batting and Bowling Highlights
New Zealand Innings
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | How Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Young | 107 | 113 | 12 | 1 | 94.69 | c sub (Faheem Ashraf) b Naseem Shah |
| Devon Conway | 10 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 58.82 | b Abrar Ahmed |
| Kane Williamson | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 | c †Mohammad Rizwan b Naseem Shah |
| Daryl Mitchell | 10 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 41.66 | c Shaheen Shah Afridi b Haris Rauf |
| Tom Latham (†) | 118 | 104 | 10 | 3 | 113.46 | not out |
| Glenn Phillips | 61 | 39 | 3 | 4 | 156.41 | c Fakhar Zaman b Haris Rauf |
| Michael Bracewell | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | not out |
| Extras | 13 | (lb 4, w 9) | ||||
| Total | 320/5 | 50.0 overs (RR: 6.40) |
Pakistan Innings
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | How Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saud Shakeel | 6 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 31.57 | c Henry b O’Rourke |
| Babar Azam | 64 | 90 | 6 | 1 | 71.11 | c Williamson b Santner |
| Mohammad Rizwan (c)† | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 21.42 | c Phillips b O’Rourke |
| Fakhar Zaman | 24 | 41 | 4 | 0 | 58.53 | b Bracewell |
| Salman Agha | 42 | 28 | 6 | 1 | 150.00 | c Bracewell b Smith |
| Tayyab Tahir | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 | c Williamson b Santner |
| Khushdil Shah | 69 | 49 | 10 | 1 | 140.81 | c Bracewell b O’Rourke |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 14 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 107.69 | c †Latham b Henry |
| Naseem Shah | 13 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 86.66 | b Henry |
| Haris Rauf | 19 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 190.00 | c Mitchell b Santner |
| Abrar Ahmed | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | not out |
| Extras | 5 | (lb 1, w 4) | ||||
| Total | 260 | 47.2 overs (RR: 5.49) |
Bowling Performances
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Econ | 0s | 4s | 6s | WD | NB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 10 | 68 | 0 | 6.80 | 30 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Naseem Shah | 10 | 63 | 2 | 6.30 | 30 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Abrar Ahmed | 10 | 47 | 1 | 4.70 | 30 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Haris Rauf | 10 | 83 | 2 | 8.30 | 25 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Khushdil Shah | 7 | 40 | 0 | 5.71 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Salman Agha | 3 | 15 | 0 | 5.00 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |