Pakistan faced a disappointing start to their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, losing to New Zealand by 60 runs in Karachi. Chasing a challenging target of 321, Pakistan’s batting was sluggish, with their top-order struggling to score as they managed only 22 runs in the first 10 overs. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s conservative play set a slow pace, leading to a disappointing total of 260 all out. Salman Agha offered some resistance with a quick 42 runs, but top bowlers Will O’Rourke and Mitchell Santner helped secure New Zealand’s fourth consecutive victory against Pakistan in the tournament.
Pakistan began their Champions Trophy 2025 journey with a 60-run defeat to New Zealand in Karachi on Wednesday. Set with a daunting target of 321 runs, Pakistan’s innings never gained momentum as the top-order batsmen made painfully sluggish contributions. In the initial 10 overs, Pakistan could only muster 22 runs for 2 wickets, with Babar Azam at 12* (27 balls) and Mohammad Rizwan at 3* (14 balls). By the end of 15 overs, they reached 49/2 with Babar on 22* (37 balls) and after 20 overs, the score was a mere 66/2. The run rate improved only after Salman Agha arrived at the crease, who managed a brisk 42 off 28 balls.
Ravichandran Ashwin took notice of Babar’s innings, comparing it to “The Tortoise and the Hare” fable.
Babar’s path to 50, paired with Salman Ali Agha’s batting, perfectly illustrates “The Tortoise and the Hare” story. #ChampionsTrophy
The 50 I hope will come soon enough
— Ashwin (@ashwinravi99) February 19, 2025
Pakistan’s chase of 321 runs was plagued by sluggishness and conservatism, resulting in a 60-run defeat against New Zealand in their ICC Champions Trophy opener in Karachi.
This marks New Zealand’s fourth victory over Pakistan in the Champions Trophy, and they remain unbeaten against the defending champions. Pakistan’s upcoming match against arch-rivals India will effectively be a knockout. The slow contributions from Saud Shakeel, skipper Mohammed Rizwan, and Babar Azam were detrimental to the team’s performance.
In their pursuit of 321 runs, Pakistan faced a poor start as Saud Shakeel was dismissed by Will O’Rourke for 6 runs off 19 balls, caught at third man by Matt Henry. The team was left at 8/1 in 3.4 overs.
Pakistan’s captain Mohammed Rizwan and Babar Azam then came together, adopting an overly cautious approach that led to a score of 22/2 at the end of the first 10 overs, with Rizwan being caught brilliantly by Glenn Phillips for just 3 runs (14 balls), giving O’Rourke his second wicket.
Babar was joined by Fakhar Zaman, who provided some exciting shots. Thanks to a boundary from Babar, Pakistan crossed the 50-run mark in 15.2 overs.
Fakhar attempted to assert some intent but was deceived by a delivery from Michael Bracewell, which bowled him out. Pakistan was at 67/3 in 20.5 overs.
Then Salman Agha arrived at the crease, contrasting his aggressive style with Babar’s cautiousness. The team reached the 100-run mark in 27.1 overs.
Agha was handling the spinners confidently, but Babar’s slow scoring added pressure on him. Agha eventually fell to Nathan Smith after scoring 42 runs off 28 balls, hitting six fours and one six. Pakistan stood at 127/4 in 30.4 overs.
Babar reached his 35th ODI fifty in 81 balls, striking five fours.
Santner then dismissed Tayyab Tahir for 1, leaving half the team back in the pavilion for 128 runs. He also ended Babar’s slow innings at 90 balls for 64 runs, which included six fours and one six. Pakistan was now at 153/6 in 34 overs.
After Babar’s exit, the run rate increased, with Khushdil Shah hitting some boundaries against the spinners.
Khushdil assisted Pakistan in reaching the 200-run milestone in 41 overs.
Shaheen was dismissed by Matt Henry for 14 runs off 13 balls, which included a six. Pakistan was at 200/7 in 41 overs.
Khushdil notched his half-century in 38 balls, scoring six fours and one six. A partnership of 29 runs between Shah and Haris Rauf ended when O’Rourke dismissed Shah for 69 runs off 49 balls, comprising 10 fours and one six. Pakistan reached 229/8 in 44 overs.
Rauf and Naseem Shah entertained the audience with some monumental hits, but Santner dismissed Rauf for 19 runs off 10 balls, hitting three sixes. The final wicket fell when Henry cleaned up Naseem Shah for 13 runs off 15 balls. Pakistan was all out for 260 runs in 47.2 overs.
O’Rourke (3/47) and Santner (3/66) were the standout bowlers for New Zealand. Matt Henry claimed two wickets, while Bracewell and Nathan each took one.
With ANI inputs
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