NZ Win By 60 Runs | Pakistan vs New Zealand ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Highlights: Tom Latham, Will Young, Bowlers Shine as Kiwis Start With Dominant Victory

New Zealand have beaten Pakistan by 60 runs! What a start to their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign! It has been a magnificent performance from Mitchell Santner and his men who continue their good form over Pakistan. Chasing such a massive score, Pakistan were never in the hunt after the lack of intent early on and despite a late flourish from the middle and lower-middle order, it was not enough. An impressive show with the bat followed by a very good bowling and fielding display has given New Zealand a solid start in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. For Pakistan, Khushdil Shah's 69 off 49 and Salman Ali Agha's 42 off 28 were not enough. Babar Azam also scored a fifty but the pace at which he got it did not do his team any good. For New Zealand, Will O'Rourke and captain Mitchell Santner took three wickets each. Pakistan will look to bounce back from this loss when they take on India on February 23. New Zealand on the other hand, will look to continue this momentum while facing Bangladesh on February 24.

OUT! Khushdil Shah's fight comes to an end as he is dismissed for 69 runs off 49 balls. The left-hander looked good for his 69-run knock and his batting is one of Pakistan's positives from what has been otherwise a poor day for them.  Khushdil Shah c Michael Bracewell b Will O'Rourke 69(49)

FIFTY for Khushdil Shah but it might just be too late for Pakistan to chase this down. The left-hander has played some cracking shots and looked good for his half-century. Pakistan however need 108 from 48 balls and it seems very improbable now.

OUT! Shaheen Afridi has to depart with Matt Henry getting his first wicket. The left-hander edged that short ball with Tom Latham taking the catch. New Zealand have been all over Pakistan and they are cruising to a win.  Shaheen Afridi c Tom Latham b Matt Henry 14(13)

Khushdil Shah and Shaheen Afridi are continuing Pakistan's fight but the task is looking way too tough from here on. Pakistan need 125 runs off 60 balls and all eyes are on now Khushdil Shah, who can tonk a few. Shaheen Afridi is also handy with the bat but the target is just too much.

OUT! Mitchell Santner has struck and this time, he gets Babar Azam's wicket. The Pakistan star did try to play some shots towards the later phase of his dismissal but those were more out of frustration. He walks off the field and with it, Pakistan's hopes and a miraculous turnaround can change things for them here. The right-hander got a top-edge as he tries to hit the fuller delivery and Kane Williamson pouches a safe catch.  Babar Azam c Kane Williamson b Mitchell Santner 64(90)

OUT! Mitchell Santner has struck and he has dismissed Tayyab Tahir! One wicket has brought two for New Zealand as the right-hander has hit the ball straight to Kane Williamson while attempting to find the boundary. Pakistan continue to slide into further trouble. Tayyab Tahir c Kane Williamson b Mitchell Santner 1(5)

OUT! A change of bowling has worked for New Zealand with Salman Ali Agha falling to Nathan Smith. The right-hander got a top-edge as he came down the track to the short delivery and did not seem to be in any control at all. Mitchell Santner completed the catch and Pakistan once again have been pegged back. Salman Ali Agha c Michael Bracewell b Nathan Smith 42(28)

FIFTY for Babar Azam but it has come off 81 balls. The right-hander has held one end strongly while wickets fell at the other end and now it is time he goes for the big shots.

Salman Ali Agha has injected fresh life into Pakistan's run chase. The right-hander has shown intent and attacked the New Zealand bowlers, finding some boundaries and breaking the shackles. Babar Azam at the other end, has found it hard to score the boundaries. Pakistan still need a massive 197 runs from 20 overs.

We are done with 25 overs in the run chase and Pakistan have scored just 83 runs. Both Babar Azam and Salman Ali Agha have not been able to rotate the strike and neither find the boundaries. At this rate, Pakistan might be leaving too much to do towards the back end of this innings. New Zealand will be loving how things are going on at the moment.

OUT! Fakhar Zaman has been castled by Michael Bracewell and his painful stay at the crease ends. The left-hander was not at his best in terms of fitness after that injury early on and battled hard for his 24 runs. But unfortunately for Pakistan, he has been dismissed. New Zealand's grip continue to grow more into this game.  Fakhar Zaman b Michael Bracewell 24(41)

Pakistan have scored just 55 runs in 17 overs and the run rate is not what was expected in a run chase where the target is 321. Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam have been kept quiet by the New Zealand bowlers, especially with the spinners Michael Bracewell and also Glenn Phillips.

Fakhar Zaman is finding it tough to continue batting. He clenched his back earlier after leaving the field and went down after playing a shot off Glenn Phillips' bowling. He is even finding it tough to run quick singles. Pakistan fans might want to look away.

OUT! Glenn Phillips has taken a stunner to dismiss Mohammad Rizwan! The Pakistan captain slashed at that delivery hard and Glenn Phillips pulled off a one-handed stunner! A big wicket as New Zealand are up and running big time! Mohammad Rizwan c Glenn Phillips b Will O'Rourke 3(14)

Pakistan have scored just 19 runs in the first eight overs and it is a slow start, given the target they are to chase down. While New Zealand will be happy with this, both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan will be aware of the fact that they cannot consume many deliveries without scoring runs.

OUT! Will O'Rourke has struck for New Zealand with Saud Shakeel falling to the pacer! The southpaw swung at the away going delivery and Matt Henry did well to take the catch at third man. Pakistan have been handed a big blow and Mohammad Rizwan is up next. Fakhar Zaman might have to spend some more time in the dressing room before coming out to bat. Saud Shakeel c Matt Henry b Will O'Rourke 6(19)

It is Saud Shakeel and not Fakhar Zaman who has opened the innings for Pakistan in this match. This is because the left-hander, who was injured early on in the first innings, was not there on the field for a good amount of time and hence, he can come to bat after 20 minutes into this innings. Pakistan have scored one run off the first over bowled by Matt Henry.

New Zealand have scored 320/5 and it is a pretty good total! After losing three wickets in a quick space of time, Will Young and Tom Latham steadied the ship with a brilliant 118-run partnership. After Will Young was dismissed, it was the duo of Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips who took the charge against Pakistan's bowlers, hitting 125 runs off 74 balls. Tom Latham got a century while Glenn Phillips scored a quickfire 61. New Zealand scored 113 runs in the last 10 overs and they will back the bowlers to defend this. For Pakistan, Abrar Ahmed was the most economical while Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf got two apiece. We will be back with the chase shortly!

OUT! Haris Rauf has broken this partnership by dismissing Glenn Phillips, but not before the wicketkeeper-batter smashed a 39-ball 61. Glenn Phillips c Fakhar Zaman b Haris Rauf 61(39)