New Zealand Triumphs Over Pakistan in Champions Trophy 2025 Opener

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 kicked off with a high-voltage encounter as New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 60 runs in the opening match at the National Stadium, Karachi.

Despite the electrifying atmosphere created by over 30,000 passionate fans, the home team fell short in their chase of 321 runs. Tom Latham and Will Young starred for New Zealand with centuries, while Khushdil Shah’s fighting 69 was a silver lining for Pakistan.

This victory gives New Zealand a crucial two points in Group A, while Pakistan now faces added pressure ahead of their much-anticipated clash against arch-rivals India.

New Zealand’s Commanding Batting Display

Winning the toss and opting to bat first, New Zealand capitalized on a batting-friendly surface to post an imposing 320/5 in 50 overs. Their innings was built on patience, aggression, and tactical brilliance.

Key Performances in New Zealand’s Innings:

• Will Young (107 off 113 balls)
  • Provided a solid foundation, displaying excellent shot selection.
  • His innings included 12 fours and a six, demonstrating both patience and attacking play.
• Tom Latham (118 off 104 balls)*
  • The captain led from the front, stabilizing the middle order after an early wobble.
  • He paced his innings beautifully, ensuring New Zealand reached a massive total.
  • His knock featured 10 boundaries and three sixes, proving crucial in the final overs.
• Glenn Phillips (61 off 39 balls)
  • Injected momentum in the death overs, smashing boundaries at will.
  • His quickfire fifty helped New Zealand add 113 runs in the last 10 overs.

New Zealand had lost three wickets for 73 runs, but a 118-run partnership between Young and Latham turned the tide.

Pakistan’s Chase and Khushdil Shah’s Heroics

Chasing 321 was always going to be a challenging task, and Pakistan got off to a shaky start.

Pakistan’s Early Setbacks:

• Fakhar Zaman (12 off 15 balls) fell early to Matt Henry, putting Pakistan on the back foot.
• Imam-ul-Haq (21 off 28 balls) looked set but was dismissed by Mitchell Santner, increasing the pressure.
• Mohammad Rizwan (34 off 45 balls) got a start but couldn’t convert it into a big score.

Pakistan relied on Babar Azam (64 off 90 balls) to anchor the innings, but the required run rate kept climbing.

Khushdil Shah’s Counterattack:

With Pakistan struggling at 187/6, Khushdil Shah walked in at No.7 and launched a counterattack.

• He played a fearless knock of 69 off 49 balls, featuring 10 fours and a six.
• He targeted spinners effectively and found the gaps with precision.
• However, with limited support from the lower order, Pakistan was bowled out for 260 in 47.2 overs.

Despite Khushdil’s brilliance, Pakistan fell short by 60 runs.

Khushdil Shah’s Innings Enters Champions Trophy History

Khushdil Shah’s 69-run knock at No.7 now ranks among the highest scores at that position in Champions Trophy history:

His innings proved that Pakistan’s middle order has depth, but the lack of partnerships cost them the match.

Bowling Performance: Who Stood Out?

New Zealand Bowlers:

• Matt Henry (3/49 in 10 overs)
  • Struck early, dismissing Fakhar Zaman and setting the tone.
• Trent Boult (2/42 in 9 overs)
  • Maintained pressure with his accuracy.
• Mitchell Santner (2/55 in 10 overs)
  • Kept things tight in the middle overs.

Pakistan Bowlers:

• Shaheen Afridi (2/58 in 10 overs)
  • Troubled the openers but lacked support from the other end.
• Shadab Khan (1/60 in 10 overs)
  • Conceded runs but managed a breakthrough.

Pakistan’s bowlers failed to restrict runs in the death overs, which proved costly.

Looking Ahead: Pakistan vs India Clash Awaits

With this victory, New Zealand sits comfortably on top of Group A, while Pakistan must regroup for their upcoming match against India.

This tournament is also a historic occasion for Pakistan, as they are hosting a major ICC event for the first time since the 1996 World Cup. The presence of President Asif Ali Zardari in the stands reflected the national significance of the event.

As the Pakistan vs India showdown approaches, fans are eagerly anticipating a high-octane clash.