New Zealand beat Pakistan by 60 runs: ICC Champions Trophy 2025 – updates

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is off and running, with New Zealand claiming a 60-run victory over hosts, Pakistan.

Pakistan now head to Dubai to take on India on February 23. New Zealand will take on Bangladesh next on February 24.

But we do have the small matter of India versus Bangladesh tomorrow, which we will be covering live so make sure to tune in!

On behalf of Kevin Hand, this is Rohan Sharma signing off.

New Zealand win the opening match of ICC Champions Trophy 2025#PAKvNZ | #ChampionsTrophy | #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/MvD3upTSoZ

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 19, 2025

Our live coverage of the Champions League playoff between Real Madrid and Manchester City is already under way.

Click here to join Patrick Keddie and Adam Hancock, who are bringing you our comprehensive build-up and full text and photo commentary stream of the second leg.

Our next Champions Trophy game comes from Dubai on Thursday as favourites India open their tournament against Bangladesh.

Click here for our preview.

Click here for our full match report following the game in Karachi.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner shared his thoughts: “I thought Pakistan bowled well, even through the middle stage. But the way Young and Latham rotated the strike and got the odd boundary really set us up.

“We were thinking 260-280, but it shows what you can do if you have a platform and wickets in hand. After the score we got, the first 10 overs with the ball were outstanding. The way our new-ball guys were able to smash a length.

“We built the run-rate pressure and were able to chip wickets throughout. We kind of expect that from Glenn [after taking a screamer at point], and getting Rizwan like that was outstanding.

“Tonight there wasn’t much dew, maybe because of the wind, but hitting that slightly shorter length was crucial for the quicks. [And] Bowling a little slower for our spinners, we were able to get it to grip. And our ground fielding was outstanding. We were able to squeeze the new batsmen.”

Losing Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan spoke at the post-match presentation: “I think they made a very good target. We didn’t expect they would get 320. We thought around 260 when we took early wickets.

“The Will Young-Latham partnership was crucial. We tried, but they played very smartly and that’s why they got to that total. The pitch was not easy to bat early on, but Young and Latham’s innings were crucial.

“Our execution in the end overs was not good, and that’s why they made that score. [On Fakhar’s injury] Let’s see what the result from the [scan] is.

“We lost momentum twice, first in the death overs and then in the powerplay with the bat. Losing Fakhar Zaman [as opener] was crucial. We didn’t want to put pressure on ourselves by thinking we are defending champions. This match is gone, and the next match is another normal match for us.”

Tom Latham, for scoring an unbeaten 118 off 104, is awarded player of the match: “Anytime you play on a surface, you get familiar with it. It is slightly different from the other surfaces we played on in the [recently concluded] tri-series,” he said.

“The way GP [Glenn Phillips] played, and for us, and to get to 320 was well above par. It was all the contributions throughout that made the difference.

“When I came in, it was about building a partnership with Youngy [Will Young]. We were able to go through the gears a bit more and increase the run rate [in the middle overs]. Whenever you have these small side boundaries, you can make hay at the back end.

“The lack of dew, and it being a bit more windy, definitely made the ball turn a bit more than expected. Our spinners did a fantastic job.”

Knowing that Zaman was not available to open, Pakistan should have considered some other options to partner Babar.

It is well known that Babar likes to takes his time at the wicket, so to have an aggressive option with him would have taken a lot of pressure off him. Khushdil may have raised his hand to be that player, depending on Zaman’s fitness.

There is also the small matter of the 150-plus dots Pakistan played out.

The Zaman injury definitely played a decisive factor, and had he been fully healthy, it could have made for an entirely different outcome.

Considered one of the tournament favourites, New Zealand have shown their worth with a comprehensive 60-run victory over Pakistan in their own backyard.

With Zaman not able to open with Babar due to time off the field to nurse an aggravated injury, Saud slotted in to try and get the chase going. But O’Rourke and Henry were simply masterful, restricting the hosts to an unbelievable 22 runs after 10 overs.

Once Zaman did arrive, his inability to run quick singles hampered Pakistan’s chase. Babar was also a bit slow in building his innings, getting to his 50 off 81 balls.

When Salman joined Baber, it seemed like a tall order, but the former began to hit out in an attempt to up the run rate. But once he perished, it was only a matter of time as scoreboard pressure took its toll.

A special mention should be made to Khushdil, whose 49-ball 69 was very much against the run of play.

Most of New Zealand’s bowlers came to the party, with special mentions going to O’Rourke (3 for 47) and Santner (3 for 66).

Henry is brought back on to get rid of the final wicket, which he does.

Naseem, who is falling away to the off side as he looks to paddle leg side, loses his footing as the ball careens into the vacant stumps.

Rauf slams another brutal hit, this time over long on, for yet another six. The tailenders, along with Khushdil, will have plenty of chirp for the front-line batters after, I am sure.

But all good things come to an end as Rauf tries to go aerial once more, but holes out to the long on fielder. It brings the final batter, Abrar, to the middle, with Pakistan 260 for 9.

Naseem welcomes him with a mighty swat over deep mid-wicket for a maximum.

Rauf pulls off an astonishing pulled six, fetching from outside off, all the way to the deep backward square leg boundary.

Just ridiculous from the tailender.

Just the leg bye afforded from the quick off his opening two balls.

Santner tries to get in another quick over.

Rauf hammers a massive six over long on to end what would have been a tidy over from the finger spinner.

Just four come off the over.

Pakistan’s hopes of a miraculous comeback have seemingly ended with Khushdil’s departure from the scene.

Pakistan’s last form of resistance may have just ended as Khushdil is caught in the deep.

With boundaries the need of the hour, the left-hander tries to go over long on, but ends up being snagged by the fielder.

Rauf joins his fellow quick, Naseem.

He is into his eighth over.

But Khushdil continues where he left off, timing his pull to find the gap at deep backward square leg.