In a thrilling encounter in Karachi, New Zealand triumphed over Pakistan by 60 runs in a Group A match of the ICC Champions Trophy. The match, which marked the first ICC event hosted by Pakistan in nearly three decades, saw New Zealand post a formidable total after being put in to bat first. Despite a spirited chase by Pakistan, the hosts fell short, handing New Zealand a significant win.
New Zealand's innings was spearheaded by standout performances from Tom Latham and Will Young. Latham remained unbeaten with a stellar 118* off 104 balls, while Young contributed a commanding 107 from 107 balls. Their solid partnership laid the foundation for New Zealand's imposing total of 320-5 in their allotted 50 overs. Glenn Phillips further bolstered the scorecard with a quickfire 61 from just 39 balls, adding crucial runs in the latter stages of the innings.
Pakistan's bowlers struggled to contain the New Zealand batsmen, with Naseem Shah managing to secure figures of 2-63. The visitors' lower-order batsmen capitalized on the platform set by Latham and Young, launching several sixes in the last 10 overs to push their total beyond Pakistan's expectations.
"They put a good target on the board – we didn't expect 320."
Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan
In response, Pakistan's chase began on a tentative note, and they were unable to accelerate as required. The early loss of wickets compounded their struggles, making it difficult to keep up with the demanding run rate. Khushdil Shah and Babar Azam attempted to anchor the innings with scores of 69 and 64, respectively. However, their efforts fell short as Pakistan was bowled out for 260 in 47.2 overs.
New Zealand's bowling attack was incisive, with Will O'Rourke leading the charge by taking 3-47. The bowlers maintained pressure on Pakistan's batsmen throughout their innings, ensuring that they never gained the momentum needed to chase down the target.
The significance of this match was not lost on New Zealand's players, especially given Pakistan's role as defending champions in this tournament. Tom Latham expressed the team's mindset following their victory.
"Every match is important for us. If you look at us being defending champions that's extra pressure on us."
Player of the match, New Zealand's Tom Latham
The historic context of this match added an extra layer of excitement, as it was the first time in 29 years that Pakistan hosted an ICC event. Fans witnessed a high-caliber performance from both sides, showcasing international cricket at its best on Pakistani soil.
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