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Karachi, 14 February 2025: New Zealand romped to a five-wicket win over hosts Pakistan in the final of the tri-nation ODI series as they chased the 243-run target with 28 balls to spare here at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Friday.
Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham anchored the chase with an 87-run fourth-wicket stand as the duo also struck half-centuries. Mitchell, who walked in at 76-2, gathered 57 runs off 58 balls striking six boundaries, Latham faced 64 balls for 56 runs inclusive of five fours.
Latham also partnered with Glenn Phillips (20 not out, 17b, 2x4s) for a 31-ball 37-run stand for fifth wicket before New Zealand chased the target in 45.2 overs.
At the start of the innings, Naseem Shah drew the first blood for Pakistan when he pinned Will Young in front of the stumps in the second over. Kane Williamson (34, 49b, 3x4s, 1x6) joined forces with Devon Conway (48, 74b, 5x4s) to stitch a solid 71-run stand for the second wicket.
For Pakistan Naseem picked up two wickets, while Salman Ali Agha, Abrar Ahmed and Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed one batter each.
Earlier, Pakistan opted to bat first and lost Fakhar Zaman in the fourth over to player of the match Will O’Rourke. Pakistan slipped to 54-3 in 11.5 overs before middle order batters Mohammad Rizwan (46, 76b, 4x4s, 1x6) and Salman Ali Agha (45, 65b, 1x4, 1x6) dug deep for an 88-run stand off 120 balls.
Rizwan was castled by O’Rourke in the 32nd over, while Salman fell to Michael Bracewell in 37th over with scorecard reading 161-5.
No.6 batter Tayyab Tahir hit four boundaries and a solitary six in his 33-ball stay on the crease scoring 38 runs before Jacob Duffy removed him in 42nd over. The last four wickets could add 47 runs to the total with Faheem Ashraf and Naseem Shah contributing 22 and 19 runs, respectively.
O’Rourke was the pick of New Zealand bowlers with figures of 9.3-0-43-4, while Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell picked up two wickets each.
Pakistan and New Zealand will now face each other in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the same venue on Wednesday, 19 February.
Scores in brief :
Final – New Zealand beat Pakistan by five wickets at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi
Pakistan 242 all out, 49.3 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 46, Salman Ali Agha 45, Tayyab Tahir 38, Babar Azam 29, Faheem Ashraf 22; Will O’Rourke 4-43, Mitchell Santner 2-20, Michael Bracewell 2-38)
New Zealand 243-5, 45.2 overs (Daryl Mitchell 57, Tom Latham 56, Devon Conway 48, Kane Williamson 34, Glenn Phillips 20 not out; Naseem Shah 2-43)
Player of the match – Will O’Rourke (New Zealand)
Player of the series – Salman Ali Agha (Pakistan)
