Pakistan aimed for a dream start, New Zealand gave them a nightmare
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Hosts Pakistan could not make a dream start to the ICC Champions Trophy as New Zealand dealt them a 60-run defeat in the opener in Karachi on Wednesday. Will Young and Tom Latham had hit centuries for the visitors before their bowling unit, led by skipper Mitchell Santner, got the job done.
Chasing a target of 321, Pakistan struggled to get going as Babar Azam and skipper Mohammad Rizwan could only manage 22 runs from the first 10 overs following Saud Shakeel's early dismissal.
Babar stuck around, while Fakhar Zaman stepped up, braving an injury sustained from trying to save a boundary early on. His efforts would have been hailed as a valiant one had he managed to pull off a miracle, but he fell for 24. Babar's resistance ended on 64 runs from 90 deliveries.
Salman Agha gave hope to the home crowd with a quick-fire 42 (off 28 balls), and Khushdil Shah, too, managed to step on the accelerator with a 49-ball 69. However, the hosts could never recover from the poor start and were bundled out for 260.
Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan had won the toss and got an early breakthrough when Abrar Ahmed dismissed Devon Conway (10). The Kiwis also lost Kane Williamson (1) and Daryl Mitchell (10) before Latham and Young forged a 118-run partnership.
Young fell to Naseem Shah's bowling after a fine 107 off 113, scoring 12 boundaries and a six. Latham carried the innings forward, supported by Glenn Phillips, who smashed four maximums and three boundaries in his 39-ball 61 before being removed by returning pacer Haris Rauf. The duo held a 125-run stand for the fifth wicket.
Latham remained unbeaten on 118 off 104 (10 boundaries, 3 sixes). Shaheen Shah Afridi finished wicketless for Pakistan, while Shah and Rauf bagged two apiece.
The Champions Trophy is an eight-nation event that is being played in Pakistan and the UAE this time. India's refusal to visit Pakistan is the reason Dubai was selected as a neutral venue.
Brief scores: New Zealand 320/5 in 50 overs (Tom Latham 118 not out, Will Young 107, Glenn Phillips 61, Naseem Shah 2/63, Haris Rauf 2/83) bt Pakistan 260 in 47.2 overs (Khushdil Shah 69, Babar Azam 64, Salman Agha 42, Mitchell Santner 3/66, Will O'Rourke 3/47, Matt Henry 2/25)