Pak vs NZ: New Zealand Clinches Tri-Series Title with a Dominant Victory Over Pakistan
Karachi hosted the exciting Pakistan Tri-Nation Series final on February 14, 2025. With five wickets remaining and 28 balls remaining, New Zealand defeated Pakistan’s 242 total in a fiercely contested match. In spite of injury setbacks, this triumph demonstrated New Zealand’s supremacy and paved the way for an intriguing Champions Trophy start between these two sides in only five days.
Match Summary
Pakistan: 242 (50 overs)
- Top Performers: Mohammad Rizwan (46), Salman Agha (45)
- Best Bowling Figures for NZ: William O’Rourke (4/43), Mitchell Santner (2/20)
New Zealand: 243/5 (45.2 overs)
- Top Performers: Daryl Mitchell (57), Tom Latham (56)
- Best Bowling Figures for PAK: Naseem Shah (2/43)
Result: New Zealand won by five wickets.
Throughout their innings, Pakistan found it difficult to keep up their pace. Their powerplay only produced 48 runs with two early dismissals after a sluggish start. While captain Babar Azam succumbed for 29 from 34 balls despite hitting 6000 ODI runs in record time, Fakhar Zaman was dismissed by O’Rourke for just 10 runs.
Rizwan and Agha’s 88-run partnership was the high point of Pakistan’s innings, but New Zealand’s bowlers, headed by Santner and O’Rourke, tightened their hold. Pakistan was limited to 242 runs by the lack of acceleration in the last overs.
William O’Rourke put on a fantastic display, taking four wickets and confusing Pakistan’s hitters with his variation. Mitchell Santner kept the middle overs tight with 40 dot balls throughout his similarly outstanding 10-over performance (2/20). Pakistan’s scoring chances were further curbed as Michael Bracewell contributed two wickets.
With remarkable poise, New Zealand chased 243 beneath the lights. The innings was supported by Devon Conway (48) and Kane Williamson (34) who shared the second wicket in a 71-run partnership. New Zealand was unfazed by Conway’s departure just short of his half-century, as Tom Latham (56), and Daryl Mitchell (57), grabbed charge with an 87-run combination.
Latham’s consistent hit and Mitchell’s creative sweeps made sure New Zealand maintained its lead over the needed run rate. The game was concluded by Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell, demonstrating the depth of New Zealand’s batting order.
Key Takeaways
- William O’Rourke’s Emergence: The pacer stepped up brilliantly in the absence of senior bowlers, claiming four crucial wickets.
- New Zealand’s Spin Supremacy: Santner and Bracewell outperformed Pakistan’s spinners, applying immense pressure during the middle overs.
- Pakistan’s Missed Opportunities: Dropped catches and missed reviews proved costly for the hosts.
- NZ’s Middle-Order Strength: Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham’s partnership highlighted the visitors’ batting depth.
Prior to their rematch with Pakistan on the same field in Karachi for the Champions Trophy opener, New Zealand delivered a powerful message with this victory. They will be a strong opponent thanks to the return of Lockie Ferguson and Rachin Ravindra, who will further strengthen their team.
