ICC Champions Trophy: New Zealand beat Pakistan in event opener due to Tom Latham and Will Younger centuries

Tom Latham and Will Younger each hit centuries as New Zealand kicked off their ICC Champions Trophy marketing campaign with a 60-run win over hosts Pakistan in Karachi.

Younger (107 off 113 balls) scored his first abroad ODI century, whereas Latham (118no from 104 balls) hit his eighth ton as New Zealand posted 320-5.

Abrar Ahmed (1-47) and Naseem Shah (2-63) struck early for the hosts, however cautious batting from New Zealand allowed them to construct from 73-3 to 191-4 over 21 overs.

In reply, Pakistan, who have been dealt a blow within the first over of the match when opener Fakhar Zaman picked up an damage, struggled to threaten New Zealand and so they have been bowled out for 260 with 2.4 overs remaining.

Babar Azam (64) and Salman Ali Agha (42) managed to supply Pakistan with much-needed resistance within the center order, however the Black Caps continued to pile on the strain by means of tight bowling and sharp fielding, the spotlight a terrific catch from Glenn Phillips that dismissed captain Muhammad Rizwan for simply three early on.

Younger and Latham’s tons information NZ to win

Pakistan’s wayward bowling allowed Devon Conway and Will Younger to get New Zealand off to a fast begin with a 39-run opening stand.

Eyebrows have been raised when spinner Abrar was launched into the assault within the sixth over, however he picked up the primary wicket by bowling Conway, earlier than Kane Williamson (1) edged behind off Naseem.

Haris Rauf then had Daryl Mitchell (10) caught at mid-on by Shaheen Shah Afridi on his return from damage, however Pakistan struggled to get one other wicket as Younger and Latham shared a blistering 118-run stand.

Naseem’s arduous yards paid off when he claimed the prized wicket of Younger, with substitute fielder Faheem Ashraf taking an excellent sliding catch.

Nonetheless, New Zealand’s momentum didn’t break with Latham powering his aspect to an above-par complete, supported by Phillips who smashed 61 from 39 deliveries.

Rauf eliminated Phillips within the ultimate over after he looped a catch to brief third, however Pakistan barely celebrated the wicket after they’d allowed the opposition to get away from them within the ultimate 10 overs.

Babar and Khushdil’s half-centuries in useless

Will O’Rourke (3-47) eliminated Saud Shakeel (6), who was opening the batting as a substitute of Zaman, as Pakistan started their run chase, earlier than Phillips took a exceptional one-handed diving catch to dismiss Rizwan.

Zaman (24), dropped on 24, made a valiant effort to bat regardless of a muscle damage as he hobbled by means of for singles earlier than a miscued slog sweep which noticed his center stump clattered by Michael Bracewell (1-38).

Babar and Salman shared a 58-run stand which steadied Pakistan briefly earlier than he pulled Nathan Smith (1-20) to midwicket, whereas Tayyab Tahir (1) was dismissed within the following over off Mitchell Santner (3-66).

Babar introduced up his 54th ODI half-century however grew to become Santner’s second sufferer after top-edging to Williamson at midwicket.

Afridi added 14 runs earlier than he was outdone by the additional bounce Matt Henry (2-25) extracted from the dry Karachi wicket, leaving Khushdil (69) to carry up his half-century off 38 balls earlier than he ultimately holed out to Bracewell at long-on off O’Rourke’s bowling.

Rauf (19) hit three sixes to elevate the spirits on the backend however was dismissed by Santner, whereas Henry sealed the victory by bowling Naseem (13).

Rizwan: Lack of Fakhar to damage essential

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan talking on Sky Sports activities Cricket:

“We lost momentum twice, first in the death overs and then in the powerplay with the bat.

“Shedding Fakhar Zaman [as opener] was essential. Let’s have a look at what the end result from the [scan] is.

“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.”

Santner hails ‘excellent’ NZ bowling assault

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner talking on Sky Sports activities Cricket:

“I thought Pakistan bowled well, even through the middle stage, but how well 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 rating we bought, the primary 10 overs with the ball have been excellent, the best way our new-ball guys have been in a position to smash a size. We constructed the run-rate strain and have been in a position to chip wickets all through.”

What’s next?

Pakistan are next in action against India on February 23 at the Dubai International Stadium, while New Zealand face Bangladesh on February 24.

England kick off their Champions Trophy campaign against Australia on Saturday February 22, with all games live on Sky Sports Cricket.

ICC Champions Trophy schedule

All games 9am UK and Ireland

Group A

• February 19: Pakistan vs New Zealand (Karachi) – New Zealand won by 60 runs
• February 20: Bangladesh vs India (Dubai)
• February 23: Pakistan vs India (Dubai)
• February 24: Bangladesh vs New Zealand (Rawalpindi)
• February 27: Pakistan vs Bangladesh (Rawalpindi)
• March 2: New Zealand vs India (Dubai)

Group B

• February 21: Afghanistan vs South Africa (Karachi)
• February 22: Australia vs England (Lahore)
• February 25: Australia vs South Africa (Rawalpindi)
• February 26: Afghanistan vs England (Lahore)
• February 28: Afghanistan vs Australia (Lahore)
• Mar 1: South Africa vs England (Karachi)

Semi-finals

• March 4: Semi-final (Dubai)
• March 5: Semi-final 2 (Lahore)

Final

• March 9: Final (Lahore or Dubai)

Daniel Dubois vs Joseph Parker and the Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol rematch will be live on Saturday February 22 on Sky Sports Box Office. E book now!