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New Zealand Dominates as Pakistan Stumbles in Champions Trophy 2025 Opener

Umair Hussain·19/02/2025·2 min

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 kicked off at National Bank Stadium, Karachi, where cricket fans witnessed a thrilling encounter. However, Pakistan’s campaign began on a disappointing note as New Zealand beats Pakistan and secured a 60-run victory in the tournament’s opening match.

New Zealand Beats Pakistan 2025 — *_{New Zealand Beats Pakistan by 60 runs}*

Winning the toss, Pakistan’s skipper Mohammad Rizwan chose to bowl, expecting favorable conditions later in the game. However, the much-anticipated dew factor never arrived, leaving the hosts struggling against a disciplined New Zealand bowling attack.

New Zealand’s Batting Powerhouse Sets the Tone

New Zealand posted a solid total of 320/5 in 50 overs, thanks to outstanding performances by Tom Latham (118)* and Will Young (107). Their calculated approach ensured stability, while Glenn Phillips’ explosive 61 off 39 balls provided the perfect finish.

New Zealand’s Top Performers with the Bat:

Player	Runs	Balls	4s	6s
Tom Latham	118*	130	10	3
Will Young	107	122	12	2
Glenn Phillips	61	39	5	2

Pakistan’s bowlers, despite a promising start, struggled in the death overs. Naseem Shah (2/58) and Haris Rauf (2/63) took key wickets, but New Zealand’s batters maintained control throughout.

Pakistan’s Batting Collapse: A Missed Opportunity

Chasing 321, Pakistan’s innings lacked momentum. A sluggish start saw the early departure of Saud Shakeel (6) and Rizwan (3), putting immense pressure on the middle order.

Despite a gritty 64 off 90 balls by Babar Azam and a spirited 69 off 49 balls by Khushdil Shah, Pakistan could not build strong partnerships. The innings eventually wrapped up at 260 in 47.2 overs.

Pakistan’s Key Batting Contributions:

Player	Runs	Balls	4s	6s
Babar Azam	64	90	6	0
Khushdil Shah	69	49	7	2
Salman Agha	42	28	5	1

New Zealand’s Will O’Rourke (3/45) was instrumental in dismantling Pakistan’s top order, while Matt Henry and Mitchell Santner took key wickets to prevent any late comeback.

What’s Next for Pakistan? A Must-Win Against India

With this defeat, Pakistan now faces a high-stakes clash against India on Sunday. The Green Shirts must address their batting concerns and improve their death bowling if they want to stay in the tournament.