ICC Champions Trophy: Latham and Young's Centuries Lead New Zealand to 320/5 Against Pakistan

Karachi, Feb 19 (NationPress) Centuries from Tom Latham and Will Young propelled New Zealand to a commanding 320/5 in their opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 against Pakistan at the National Bank Stadium.

The Kiwis concluded their innings with a flourish, amassing 131 runs in the final 10 overs, establishing a challenging target for the hosts.

After opting to bat first, New Zealand faced early challenges as Pakistan’s pace attack made their presence felt. Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah began effectively with the new ball, applying pressure on openers Will Young and Devon Conway. Despite finding minimal swing, Naseem managed to extract movement off the pitch, causing problems for the batters.

The breakthrough arrived in the ninth over when leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed bowled a stunning delivery to dismiss Conway (10). The carrom ball pitched on middle and leg before turning past the bat to hit off-stump, leaving the left-handed batsman astonished. Pakistan struck again in the following over when Naseem delivered an unplayable outswinger to send Kane Williamson back for just 1 run. Williamson edged one to the wicketkeeper, leaving New Zealand at 48/2 at the end of the powerplay.

The Kiwis continued to struggle as Haris Rauf, returning from injury, removed the dangerous Daryl Mitchell in the 17th over. Finding it hard to settle, Mitchell could only manage 10 runs off 24 balls before mistiming a pull to mid-on. At 73/3, New Zealand required a significant partnership to stabilize their innings.

Young and captain Latham took charge of the innings, rescuing New Zealand with a vital 118-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Young, in excellent form leading into the tournament, played with elegance, driving effortlessly through covers and expertly handling Pakistan’s spinners. Latham, on the other hand, adopted a cautious approach initially, rotating the strike and keeping the scoreboard moving.

Young reached his century in style, spending four deliveries on 99 before sweeping Abrar for a boundary to secure his maiden international ton away from home. His composed 107 runs off 119 balls, featuring 12 fours and a six, anchored the innings during the middle overs. However, his stay ended in the 36th over when he attempted to accelerate, miscuing a lofted shot off Naseem, catching Ashraf at deep square leg.

Latham, who had been struggling for form leading into the tournament, seized his opportunity and continued scoring even after Young’s departure. Utilizing sweeps and reverse sweeps effectively against spinners, he kept the pressure on Pakistan’s bowlers. Latham reached his century off just 95 balls, marking his first ODI hundred since 2022. His innings proved crucial as he remained not out, ensuring a strong finish for New Zealand.

With Latham well-established, Glenn Phillips entered the field, immediately attacking Pakistan’s bowlers. The power-hitter wasted no time, launching Haris Rauf for a massive six over long-on before racing to his fifty off just 34 balls. His explosive innings of 61 off 39 deliveries ensured that New Zealand maximized the final overs.

Pakistan’s bowlers, who had managed the game effectively during the early and middle overs, struggled to contain the batters during the death overs. Abrar, who had bowled economically for most of his spell, conceded 16 runs in his final over. Haris and Shaheen also faced the brunt of New Zealand’s aggression, as the visitors amassed 131 runs in the last 10 overs. The only relief for Pakistan came when Phillips was dismissed late in the innings, but by then, significant damage had been done.

New Zealand’s total of 320/5 marked only the second instance of a team scoring over 300 against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy, following India’s 319/3 at Edgbaston in 2017. This robust total ensured that Pakistan would need a record chase to kickstart their campaign with a victory.

Despite a strong start, Pakistan’s bowling attack lost steam during the death overs. Naseem Shah (2/63) and Haris Rauf (2/83) were the standout bowlers, striking early but failing to maintain a tight scoring rate later on. Shaheen Afridi (0/68) bowled with discipline initially but became expensive as the innings progressed. Abrar Ahmed (1/47) displayed flashes of brilliance, including his dismissal of Conway, yet he too faced a tough time in his final overs.

A significant challenge for Pakistan was the absence of a dependable fifth bowling option. While players like Ravindra Jadeja for India or Glenn Maxwell for Australia often disrupt partnerships in the middle overs, Pakistan lacked a similar impactful bowler. This allowed Latham and Young to build a pivotal stand that tilted the game in New Zealand’s favor.

Brief scores: New Zealand 320/5 in 50 overs (Tom Latham 118 not out, Will Young 107; Naseem Shah 2/63, Haris Rauf 2/83) against Pakistan