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Tom Latham and Will Younger each hit centuries as New Zealand kicked off their ICC Champions Trophy marketing campaign with a 60-run win over hosts Pakistan in Karachi.
Younger (107 off 113 balls) scored his first abroad ODI century, whereas Latham (118no from 104 balls) hit his eighth ton as New Zealand posted 320-5.
Abrar Ahmed (1-47) and Naseem Shah (2-63) struck early for the hosts, however cautious batting from New Zealand allowed them to construct from 73-3 to 191-4 over 21 overs.
In reply, Pakistan, who have been dealt a blow within the first over of the match when opener Fakhar Zaman picked up an damage, struggled to threaten New Zealand they usually have been bowled out for 260 with 2.4 overs remaining.
Babar Azam (64) and Salman Ali Agha (42) managed to offer Pakistan with much-needed resistance within the center order, however the Black Caps continued to pile on the strain by means of tight bowling and sharp fielding, the spotlight a terrific catch from Glenn Phillips that dismissed captain Muhammad Rizwan for simply three early on.
Younger and Latham’s tons information NZ to win
Pakistan’s wayward bowling allowed Devon Conway and Will Younger to get New Zealand off to a fast begin with a 39-run opening stand.
Eyebrows have been raised when spinner Abrar was launched into the assault within the sixth over, however he picked up the primary wicket by bowling Conway, earlier than Kane Williamson (1) edged behind off Naseem.
Haris Rauf then had Daryl Mitchell (10) caught at mid-on by Shaheen Shah Afridi on his return from damage, however Pakistan struggled to get one other wicket as Younger and Latham shared a blistering 118-run stand.
Naseem’s arduous yards paid off when he claimed the prized wicket of Younger, with substitute fielder Faheem Ashraf taking a superb sliding catch.
Nevertheless, New Zealand’s momentum didn’t break with Latham powering his facet to an above-par complete, supported by Phillips who smashed 61 from 39 deliveries.
Rauf eliminated Phillips within the remaining over after he looped a catch to quick third, however Pakistan barely celebrated the wicket after they’d allowed the opposition to get away from them within the remaining 10 overs.
Babar and Khushdil’s half-centuries in useless
Will O’Rourke (3-47) eliminated Saud Shakeel (6), who was opening the batting as a substitute of Zaman, as Pakistan started their run chase, earlier than Phillips took a outstanding one-handed diving catch to dismiss Rizwan.
Zaman (24), dropped on 24, made a valiant effort to bat regardless of a muscle damage as he hobbled by means of for singles earlier than a miscued slog sweep which noticed his center stump clattered by Michael Bracewell (1-38).
Babar and Salman shared a 58-run stand which steadied Pakistan briefly earlier than he pulled Nathan Smith (1-20) to midwicket, whereas Tayyab Tahir (1) was dismissed within the following over off Mitchell Santner (3-66).
Babar introduced up his 54th ODI half-century however turned Santner’s second sufferer after top-edging to Williamson at midwicket.
Afridi added 14 runs earlier than he was outdone by the additional bounce Matt Henry (2-25) extracted from the dry Karachi wicket, leaving Khushdil (69) to deliver up his half-century off 38 balls earlier than he ultimately holed out to Bracewell at long-on off O’Rourke’s bowling.
Rauf (19) hit three sixes to elevate the spirits on the backend however was dismissed by Santner, whereas Henry sealed the victory by bowling Naseem (13).
Rizwan: Lack of Fakhar to damage essential
Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan talking on Sky Sports activities Cricket:
“We misplaced momentum twice, first within the dying overs after which within the powerplay with the bat.
“Shedding Fakhar Zaman [as opener] was essential. Let’s have a look at what the outcome from the [scan] is.
“We did not need to put strain on ourselves by pondering we’re defending champions. This match is gone, and the following match is one other regular match for us.”
Santner hails ‘excellent’ NZ bowling assault
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner talking on Sky Sports activities Cricket:
“I believed Pakistan bowled nicely, even by means of the center stage, however how nicely Younger and Latham rotated the strike and acquired the odd boundary actually set us up. We have been pondering 260-280, but it surely reveals what you are able to do if in case you have a platform and wickets in hand.
“After the rating we acquired, the primary 10 overs with the ball have been excellent, the way in which our new-ball guys have been in a position to smash a size. We constructed the run-rate strain and have been in a position to chip wickets all through.”
What’s subsequent?
Pakistan are subsequent in motion towards India on February 23 on the Dubai Worldwide Stadium, whereas New Zealand face Bangladesh on February 24.
England kick off their Champions Trophy marketing campaign towards Australia on Saturday February 22, with all video games dwell on Sky Sports activities Cricket.
ICC Champions Trophy schedule
All video games 9am UK and Eire
Group A
- February 19: Pakistan vs New Zealand (Karachi) – New Zealand received by 60 runs
- February 20: Bangladesh vs India (Dubai)
- February 23: Pakistan vs India (Dubai)
- February 24: Bangladesh vs New Zealand (Rawalpindi)
- February 27: Pakistan vs Bangladesh (Rawalpindi)
- March 2: New Zealand vs India (Dubai)
Group B
- February 21: Afghanistan vs South Africa (Karachi)
- February 22: Australia vs England (Lahore)
- February 25: Australia vs South Africa (Rawalpindi)
- February 26: Afghanistan vs England (Lahore)
- February 28: Afghanistan vs Australia (Lahore)
- Mar 1: South Africa vs England (Karachi)
Semi-finals
- March 4: Semi-final (Dubai)
- March 5: Semi-final 2 (Lahore)
Ultimate
- March 9: Ultimate (Lahore or Dubai)
Daniel Dubois vs Joseph Parker and the Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol rematch can be dwell on Saturday February 22 on Sky Sports activities Field Workplace. Ebook now!