New Zealand Stuns Pakistan in Champions Trophy Opener, Defending Champions Set Unwanted Record

New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 60 runs in the opening match of the Champions Trophy 2025. This marked Pakistan’s third consecutive loss to New Zealand, following their back-to-back defeats in the recent tri-nation series. The loss has put the defending champions in a challenging position, making their upcoming matches against India and Bangladesh must-win encounters.

Young and Latham’s Centuries Propel New Zealand to a Strong Total of 320 Runs

New Zealand, batting first, faced early trouble as they lost Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, and Daryl Mitchell quickly, reducing them to 73/3. Will Young and Tom Latham then took control, building a crucial 118-run partnership that shifted the game’s momentum. Young smashed a brilliant century before falling for 107 runs, while Latham played a composed innings, remaining unbeaten with 118 runs off 104 deliveries.

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This marked only the fifth time in Champions Trophy history that two batters from the same team scored centuries in the same innings, and it was the first time for New Zealand. Glenn Phillips added to the momentum with a quickfire 61 off 39 balls, pushing the Kiwis to 320 runs in their first innings.

Pakistan’s Batting Struggles Continue as Kiwi’s Secures Victory; Upcoming Matches Set High Stakes

In response, Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel and Babar Azam opened the innings, while Fakhar Zaman, nursing a back injury, came in at number four. Shakeel and Babar struggled against New Zealand’s pacers, with Shakeel departing for 6 runs off 19 balls. Mohammad Rizwan, batting at number three, managed only 3 runs off 14 balls, leaving Pakistan at a dismal 22/2 during the powerplay the joint-lowest ODI powerplay total since 2024.

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Babar’s struggles continued before he eventually scored 64 off 90 deliveries. Agha Salman and Khushdil Shah showed resilience, scoring 42 and 69 runs, respectively. However, they were the only top-six batters to strike at over 100, which wasn’t enough to chase down New Zealand’s total. Pakistan will next challenge India on February 23 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, while New Zealand will play Bangladesh on February 24 in Rawalpindi.