Champions Trophy 2025: New Zealand overpowers Pakistan in Karachi
India to face Bangladesh in Dubai tomorrow
KARACHI: The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 kicked off with an exciting encounter at the National Stadium, where New Zealand secured a convincing 60-run victory over hosts Pakistan.
Opting to field first, Pakistan struggled to contain a dominant Kiwi batting lineup that powered their way to 320/5 in 50 overs.
New Zealand's innings was anchored by a sensational century from Will Young (107 off 113 balls) and a captain’s knock from Tom Latham (118 off 104 balls).
After losing early wickets, the duo rebuilt the innings, adding 118 runs for the fourth wicket. Their calculated approach, combining steady singles with timely boundaries, frustrated Pakistan’s bowlers. Glenn Phillips (61 off 39 balls) provided a late flourish, punishing Pakistan’s struggling death bowling as New Zealand smashed 113 runs in the last 10 overs.
Pakistan’s bowlers had a mixed outing. Naseem Shah (2/63) and Haris Rauf (2/83) were the standout performers, while Shaheen Afridi remained wicketless, conceding 68 runs. Captain Mohammad Rizwan admitted that the team fell short in the death overs, stating, "We thought we had them at 260, but Young and Latham’s partnership changed the momentum."
Pakistan’s struggle in the chase
Chasing a challenging target of 321, Pakistan’s innings got off to a rough start, with Saud Shakeel falling for just 6 runs. Adding to their woes, opener Fakhar Zaman was unavailable to bat due to an injury sustained while fielding, forcing a reshuffle in the batting order. Captain Babar Azam (64 off 78 balls) fought hard to keep the chase alive, while Khushdil Shah (69 off 49 balls) injected some energy with aggressive stroke play. However, regular wickets at crucial moments derailed Pakistan’s momentum.
New Zealand’s bowlers executed their plans efficiently, with Will O’Rourke (3/47) and Mitchell Santner (3/66) leading the attack. Their disciplined bowling ensured that Pakistan was bundled out for 260 in 47.2 overs, falling short by 60 runs. Reflecting on the win, New Zealand’s skipper Mitchell Santner credited his team’s all-round performance, saying, "We were thinking 260-280, but the finish was fantastic. The bowlers did a great job upfront to defend the total."
What’s next for Pakistan?
This win gives New Zealand a crucial edge in Group A as they prepare to face Bangladesh on 24 February in Rawalpindi. Meanwhile, Pakistan must regroup quickly before their high-stakes clash against India on 23 February in Dubai – a match that is expected to be one of the biggest spectacles of the tournament.
India vs Bangladesh in Dubai
The action in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 continues, with India set to take on Bangladesh tomorrow (20 February) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This will be India’s first match of the tournament, and they will be looking to start strong against a Bangladesh side that has shown improvement in white-ball cricket in recent years. With the pitch in Dubai offering assistance to both pacers and spinners, the battle between India’s formidable batting lineup and Bangladesh’s spin attack will be one to watch.