New Zealand earned a sensational victory over Pakistan in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy opener in Karachi on Wednesday. New Zealand, who won the recently concluded ODI tri-series final, maintained their finesse. This was their 3rd straight win over Pakistan in recent weeks, having beaten them twice during the tri-series, including the final.
Batting first, centuries from Will Young and Tom Latham and a fiery fifty from Glenn Phillips helped New Zealand smash their 3rd score of 300-plus in Champions Trophy history. The Kiwis managed 320/5 in 50 overs. For Pakistan, Naseem Shah took 2/63 from his 10 overs.
In response, Pakistan were off to a shocking start. They lost Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan on the cheap. Pakistan posted just 22/2 from 10 overs as the Kiwis thwarted the hosts. Will O’Rourke claimed both wickets as Matt Henry kept things quiet. Babar Azam and the injured Fakhar Zaman resurrected Pakistan’s innings, adding 44 runs in the next 10 overs.
Babar finally got a fifty before perishing. He scored 64 from 90 balls. The likes of Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah entertained, but it wasn’t enough. For the Kiwis, the likes of Mitchell Santner and Will O’Rourke picked three scalps each to disrupt Pakistan in front of the home crowd. PAK perished for 260 runs and lost the game by 60 runs.
Here, we decode the three heroes and three zeroes from the Pakistan vs New Zealand match in Karachi.
Heroes
Will Young: The right-handed opener looked flawless from the start, and he made sure to put a price on his wicket. Young added two 30-plus stands alongside Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell before a majestic 118-run stand with Latham changed the course of the match. Young’s powerful and patient century floored Pakistan. His 107 from 113 balls had 12 fours and a six. This was his 4th century in Odis. Young now owns 1615 runs in ODIs at 44.86. As per ESPNcricinfo, he registered his maiden century against Pakistan (50s: 2). Young owns 356 runs against Pakistan from 8 matches at 44.50.
Tom Latham: Latham showed his prowess with a majestic unbeaten 118. The southpaw took his time and ensured he kept the scorecard ticking along by batting deep. When Young perished in the 39th over, Latham was unbeaten on 57 from 68 balls from the other end. At the end of 40 overs, he was unscathed on 67 from 77 balls. What followed was an onslaught. He raced to his ton from 95 balls before finishing on 118* from 104 balls. He struck at 113.46 with the help of 10 fours and three sixes. In 153 matches (140 innings), Latham has scored 4274 runs at 35.03. This was his 8th century (50s: 25). In 28 matches versus Pakistan (26 innings), Latham has 756 runs at 34.36.
Glenn Phillips: The all-rounder had an electric game. He joined Latham when NZ were 191/4. Phillips came in and started patiently but then opened the floodgates for a majestic total for NZ. He scored 10 from his 1st 18 balls before smashing a first six. With Latham charging from the other end, Phillips opened up and cashed in. He reached fifty from 34 balls, scoring 40 from 16 balls after the slow start. Phillips finally perished for 61 runs from 39 balls. He struck at 156.41. Phillips has featured in 7 matches versus Pakistan, racing to 331 runs at 82.75 (100s: 1, 50s: 2). And then, while fielding, his catch to dismiss Mohammad Rizwan. Phillips dived to the left and stuck his left hand out to pluck a blinder with one hand behind the body.
Zeroes
Haris Rauf: Fast bowler Rauf started well after being introduced. In the 17th over, he dismissed Daryl Mitchell, who didn’t get any momentum. However, Rauf deteriorated as the game progressed. His first seven overs produced 44 runs. His last three overs were abysmal. His 8th over produced 16 runs. This was followed by 11 and 14 runs, respectively. He failed to land the ball in the right areas and was guilty of overpitching and bowling down the leg area. Rauf failed to provide control and paid the price. He ended up with 83 runs from 10 overs. He bowled six wides.
Mohammad Rizwan: It was a poor captaincy effort and overall a bad day for Rizwan as he saw his side pay the price for poor bowling at the death. Rizwan also made the mistake of sending Fakhar at number 4 just when he was still in a lot of pain and couldn’t run. Meanwhile, his paltry three runs from 14 balls didn’t help Pakistan when Saud Shakeel departed. Rather than playing the counter-attacking role, he allowed New Zealand to dominate. Phillips ended his rut in the middle.
Shaheen Afridi: Despite leading the pace attack, Afridi’s stock fell as the game progressed. He ended up with 68 runs from his 10 overs. Afridi went wicketless and received hammering from Glenn Phillips in the final stages. For an important figure, misfiring at home was a letdown for fans. Afridi didn’t get any wickets in the power play and was blunt in the final 10 overs as well.