Champions Trophy Highlight-Match No.1

MATCH 01 PAK VS NZ CHAMPIONS TROPHY

📍 Venue: National Stadium, Karachi

📅 Date: Wednesday, February 19, 2025

🏆 Result: New Zealand won by 60 runs

New Zealand started their Champions Trophy campaign with a dominant 60-run victory over defending champions Pakistan in the tournament opener on Wednesday.

Pakistan won the toss and chose to field first, but New Zealand made full use of the batting conditions. Will Young played a superb knock, scoring 107 runs, while Tom Latham remained unbeaten on 118. Their partnership built a strong platform for the team. Glenn Phillips then added quick runs with an explosive 61 off just 39 balls, helping New Zealand reach a big total of 320/5 in their 50 overs.

Chasing 321, Pakistan struggled to keep up with the required run rate. Captain Babar Azam fought hard with 64 runs, while Khushdil Shah played a solid innings, scoring 69. Salman Agha also contributed with a quick 42 off 28 balls, but it wasn’t enough. New Zealand’s bowlers kept Pakistan under pressure, with Will O’Rourke leading the attack, taking 3 wickets for 47 runs.

In the end, Pakistan fell short, getting bowled out for 260. This defeat is a setback for the hosts, as they now have little room for error in the remaining group-stage matches to stay in the race for the semi-finals.

Match Summary of Pak vs Nz Champions Trophy

🏏 Match: Pakistan vs New Zealand (Group Stage)
📍 Venue: National Stadium, Karachi
📅 Date: Wednesday, February 19, 2025
🏆 Result: New Zealand won by 60 runs

New Zealand Innings 🇳🇿

Total: 320/5 in 50 overs

Tom Latham – 118* (109) 🏅
Will Young – 107 (112)
Glenn Phillips – 61 (39)

Best Bowlers (Pakistan):

Will O’Rourke – 3/47 (10)
Rachin Ravindra – 2/42 (9)

Pakistan Innings 🇵🇰

Total: 260 all out in 47.2 overs

Khushdil Shah – 69 (58)
Babar Azam – 64 (75)
Agha Salman – 42 (28)

Best Bowlers (New Zealand):

Will O’Rourke – 3/47 (10)
Mitchell Santner – 2/55 (7.2)
Rachin Ravindra – 2/42 (9)

🎖 Player of the Match: Tom Latham (NZ) – 118 (109)*
✅ New Zealand won by 60 runs

Team Anylasis

Match Analysis: PAK VS NZ CHAMPIONS TROPHY

🏏 New Zealand Analysis 🇳🇿

✅ Positives:

Strong Batting: Tom Latham (118*) and Will Young (107) built a solid foundation, ensuring a big total.
Powerful Finish: Glenn Phillips (61 off 39) added crucial runs in the final overs.
Disciplined Bowling: Will O’Rourke (3/47) led the attack, supported well by Rachin Ravindra (2/42) and Mitchell Santner (2/55).
Sharp Fielding: New Zealand took key catches and saved valuable runs.

⚠️ Areas to Improve:

Death Bowling: Some expensive overs towards the end allowed Pakistan to score freely.
Middle-Order Testing: The middle order wasn’t fully challenged, which could be a risk in future games.

🏏 Pakistan Analysis 🇵🇰

✅ Positives:

Babar Azam’s Effort: Scored 64, trying to anchor the chase.
Khushdil Shah’s Fightback: Played aggressively for 69 off 58 balls.
Agha Salman’s Quick Knock: His 42 off 28 helped momentarily boost the run rate.

⚠️ Areas to Improve:

Bowling Struggles: Bowlers failed to control New Zealand’s batters, with no one taking more than one wicket.
Weak Start in Batting: Early wickets put pressure on the middle order.
Lack of Partnerships: Apart from Babar and Khushdil, there were no major stands.
Middle-Order Collapse: After Khushdil and Salman, the batting fell apart quickly.

Overall Verdict:

New Zealand dominated the game with strong batting, disciplined bowling, and good fielding. Pakistan needs to improve their bowling accuracy, stabilize their top order, and build stronger partnerships in upcoming matches. 🚀

Conclusion

New Zealand started their Champions Trophy campaign with a strong 60-run win over Pakistan. Tom Latham (118) and Will Young (107) led the batting, helping them post a big total. Their bowlers, especially Will O’Rourke (3/47) and Rachin Ravindra (2/42), kept Pakistan under control and secured the victory.

Pakistan struggled in both batting and bowling. Babar Azam (64) and Khushdil Shah (69) played well, but the team failed to build strong partnerships. Their bowlers lacked accuracy, allowing New Zealand to score freely, and fielding mistakes added to their troubles.

To stay in the tournament, Pakistan must improve their bowling, strengthen their batting lineup, and form better partnerships. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s strong performance makes them early favorites for the semi-finals. 🚀