New Zealand Secures 60-Run Victory Over Pakistan in Champions Trophy 2025 Opener

Image credits: Getty

The Champions Trophy 2025 has begun, and the first match between New Zealand and Pakistan has set the tone for the tournament. New Zealand's powerful batting performance, led by Will Young and Tom Latham, helped the team secure a 60-run victory over the hosts. The partnerships formed by the New Zealand batsmen were the key to their success, as they were able to recover from early losses and post a competitive total.

After being asked to bat, New Zealand found themselves in trouble, losing Devon Conway and Kane Williamson in quick succession. However, they regained stability through a crucial 118-run fourth-wicket partnership between Young and Latham. Building on that recovery, they pressed on with a blistering 125-run stand between Latham and Glenn Phillips off just 74 balls, finishing their innings on a strong note. The New Zealand innings was marked by two century partnerships, with Young and Latham striking hundreds and Phillips scoring a brisk half-century to power New Zealand to 320/5.

Pakistan's chase got off to a sluggish start, with the team managing only 22 runs in the first 10 overs while losing Saud Shakeel and skipper Mohammad Rizwan. Although Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah made a late effort to revive the innings, the target proved too steep for Pakistan to overcome. The match scores were as follows:

• New Zealand: 320/5
• Pakistan: 260/10

The player statistics were:

• Will Young: 107 runs
• Tom Latham: 118* runs
• Glenn Phillips: 61 runs
• Babar Azam: 64 runs
• Salman Agha: 42 runs

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan stated that his side did not expect New Zealand to score 320 runs in the first innings, having gotten off to a solid start, and poor execution in the death overs resulted in their 60-run loss. The team's inability to build momentum early in the innings and their lack of intent were major concerns. Rizwan said his team will not be taking any added pressure for the crucial tie against India and will treat it as a normal game.

The tournament schedule is as follows:

1. Pakistan vs New Zealand: February 19
2. Pakistan vs India: February 23
3. Pakistan vs Bangladesh: February 27

The team rankings are:

• New Zealand: 1st
• Pakistan: 2nd
• India: 3rd
• Bangladesh: 4th

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