The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 kicked off with an electrifying clash between Pakistan and New Zealand at the National Stadium, Karachi, on February 19, 2025. The match set the tone for the tournament as both teams fought hard to claim their first victory.
Toss & First Innings
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl first, looking to take advantage of early movement on the pitch. However, New Zealand’s batting lineup had other plans, putting up a commanding total on the board.
New Zealand’s Batting Performance
New Zealand finished their innings at 320/5 in 50 overs, courtesy of brilliant knocks from their middle order.
- Will Young played a steady and well-crafted 107 runs off 113 balls, anchoring the innings with precision.
- Tom Latham accelerated the scoring, smashing a fantastic 118 runs off 104 balls, keeping the scoreboard ticking at a strong rate.
Despite Pakistan’s efforts to contain runs, New Zealand built partnerships and capitalized on scoring opportunities.
Pakistan’s Bowling Effort
Pakistan’s bowlers toiled hard, but New Zealand’s strong batting display made it difficult to contain them.
- Naseem Shah was the most economical, taking 2 wickets for 63 runs in 10 overs.
- Haris Rauf picked up 2 wickets but conceded 83 runs in his full quota of 10 overs.
With a target of 321 runs, Pakistan now faces a challenging chase in the second innings.
Second Innings – Pakistan’s Chase
Chasing 321, Pakistan got off to a shaky start, losing early wickets. Despite a few partnerships, the required run rate kept increasing, putting pressure on the middle and lower order.
Pakistan’s Batting Performance
Pakistan was bowled out for 260 in 47.4 overs, losing the match by 60 runs.
- Babar Azam played a captain’s knock, scoring 64 runs off 90 balls, trying to stabilize the innings.
- Khushdil Shah provided some late resistance with a quickfire 69 off 49 balls, but it wasn’t enough.
New Zealand’s Bowling Standout
New Zealand’s bowlers executed their plans well, applying pressure in the middle and death overs.
- William O’Rourke took 3 wickets for 47 runs in 9 overs.
- Captain Mitchell Santner also picked up 3 wickets, conceding 66 runs in 10 overs.
With a disciplined bowling effort, New Zealand clinched a convincing 60-run victory.
Match Result & Key Performances
🏆 Winner: New Zealand won by 60 runs
🎯 Win Margin: Pakistan all out for 260
🌟 Player of the Match: Tom Latham (118 runs off 104 balls)
Top Performers:
- Batting:
- Tom Latham (NZ) – 118 runs
- Will Young (NZ) – 107 runs
- Khushdil Shah (PAK) – 69 runs
- Babar Azam (PAK) – 64 runs
- Bowling:
- Mitchell Santner (NZ) – 3/66 in 10 overs
- William O’Rourke (NZ) – 3/47 in 9 overs
- Naseem Shah (PAK) – 2/63 in 10 overs
- Haris Rauf (PAK) – 2/83 in 10 overs
What’s Next?
The Champions Trophy 2025 continues with an exciting matchup between India vs Bangladesh on 20th Feb, 2025 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Stay tuned for more updates!