New Zealand continued their dominance over Pakistan, securing a comprehensive 60-run victory in the Champions Trophy clash at the National Stadium on Wedesday.
The Black Caps posted an imposing 320/5 in 50 overs before restricting the hosts to 260 in 47.2 overs.
Pakistan’s chase faltered from the outset, with Fakhar Zaman (24) unavailable to bat initially due to injury. Babar Azam (64) and Saud Shakeel (6) opened the innings but struggled against the early swing. Shakeel departed cheaply, and Mohammad Rizwan’s (3) innings was cut short by a stunning catch from Glenn Phillips at backward point.
Babar, playing cautiously, reached a half-century off 81 balls, while Fakhar, despite re-entering the fray, was unable to make a significant impact. Pakistan’s sluggish start in the powerplay left them with a daunting asking rate, exacerbated by New Zealand’s disciplined bowling. The spinners extracted double the turn compared to Pakistan’s slow bowlers, tightening the screws further.
Tom Latham (118*) and Will Young (107) were the architects of New Zealand’s innings, guiding their team past 300 after early setbacks. Glenn Phillips provided late fireworks, accelerating the scoring in the final 10 overs, where New Zealand amassed 113 runs.
Pakistan’s bowlers had kept things tight in the initial 40 overs but lost control at the death. Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah were particularly expensive in the slog overs, as New Zealand capitalised on the lack of variation.
With this win, New Zealand extended their dominance over Pakistan, having now beaten them thrice in quick succession. The hosts will need to reassess their approach, particularly their conservative starts and inability to accelerate in crucial phases. (UNI)
