Follow UsPakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan didn’t shy away from accepting that New Zealand outplayed his team in the first game of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Will Young (107 off 113) and Tom Latham (118* off 104) scored stunning centuries as the Kiwis amassed 320/5 in their 50 overs. In reply, Pakistan were bowled out for 260 in 47.2 overs.
Chasing a big target, Pakistan got off to a horrible start, scoring just 22 runs in the first 10 overs - the lowest powerplay score posted by any team in the Champions Trophy in 12 years. Babar Azam got 64 off 90 deliveries and more or less knocked Pakistan out of the run-chase. Khushdil Shah (49-ball 69) and Salman Agha (28-ball 42) did try their best but it was never going to be enough.
“They made a good target, we didn't expect that. We were looking at something around 260. We tried our best and used all tactics, but they played well and put up a good target. We see the pitch conditions, earlier the pitch wasn't easy to bat but when Will Young and Latham got together, the batting got easier,” said Rizwan after Pakistan lost the game by 60 runs.
“At the end, we made the same mistakes like we did in Lahore and they made a good target. We didn't get a good start with the bat. We lost the momentum twice - once while bowling in the death and then while batting in the powerplay. It is disappointing for us, we played it like a normal match. The match is gone now and hopefully we can do better in the rest.”
Rizwan also gave an update on Fakhar Zaman, who got injured in the first innings and walked out to bat at No.4 in the second innings. The left-hander, who generally plays as an opener, looked uncomfortable and scored 24 off 41 balls. “Not sure yet, he hasn't got his result yet. He is in some pain,” said Rizwan.
The Black Caps were 73/3 in 16.2 overs before Young and Latham put on 118 runs for the fourth wicket before the latter added 125 runs more for the fifth wicket alongside Glenn Phillips. The latter smashed 61 off 39 deliveries as New Zealand slammed 105 runs in the last eight overs.
“Pleased with the way we went about it. Pakistan bowled well, so in the middle stage when Latham and Young could build a partnership was great, and then GP gave out and smashed it around. We were targetting around 260, but glad we could get more in the death overs. After the score we got, we were brilliant in the first 10 overs, and then we could put the squeeze in, keep that run rate pressure on them and get wickets,” said New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner.