New Zealand stormed to the top of Group A in the ICC Champions Trophy after a commanding 60-run victory over Pakistan in the tournament opener on Wednesday. The Kiwis’ strong start was powered by sensational centuries from Tom Latham and Will Young, setting the tone for their campaign.

The National Stadium in Karachi witnessed a historic moment as Pakistan hosted its first major ICC event in nearly three decades. However, the home side failed to deliver, leaving the 29,300-strong crowd disappointed as they fell short in their chase of 321.

Despite notable contributions from Khushdil Shah (69 off 49 balls) and Babar Azam (64 off 90 balls), Pakistan could only muster 260 in 47.2 overs.

New Zealand, batting first, recovered from an early setback to post an imposing 320-5. Young (107 off 113 balls) and Latham (118 not out off 104 balls) steadied the innings after a top-order collapse, sharing a vital 118-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Glenn Phillips added the finishing touches with a blistering 61 off 39 balls, ensuring the Kiwis finished strongly with 113 runs in the final 10 overs.

Pakistan’s bowlers struggled to contain the opposition, with Naseem Shah (2-63) being the pick of the attack. Haris Rauf (2-83) and Shaheen Afridi (0-68) failed to make the desired impact.

In response, Pakistan’s chase never gained momentum. Skipper Mitchell Santner (3/66) and pacer Will O’Rourke (3/47) inflicted early blows, making the task difficult for the hosts. While Salman Agha’s quick-fire 42 injected some hope, Pakistan ultimately fell short, denting their net run rate significantly.

With this win, New Zealand claims the top spot in Group A with 2 points and a net run rate of 1.200. Pakistan, with a negative net run rate of -1.200, faces a crucial clash against arch-rivals India in Dubai on Sunday.
Bangladesh and India are set to open their campaigns on Thursday, with the race for semi-final spots heating up early in the tournament.

Champions Trophy 2025 Group A points table

Champions Trophy Group B points table