Glen Phillips’ Spectacular Innings and Twin Centuries Lead New Zealand to Convincing Victory Against Pakistan in Champions Trophy Opener

Outstanding centuries from Tom Latham and Will Young led New Zealand to a 60-run triumph over defending champions Pakistan in the opening match of the Champions Trophy on Wednesday.

Latham delivered a brilliant unbeaten 118 runs from 104 balls, while Young contributed a solid 107 as New Zealand posted a formidable total of 5-320 after Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan opted to bowl first upon winning the toss.

Glenn Phillips added firepower with a rapid 61 runs off just 39 balls during the final overs against Pakistan’s pace attack, including Shaheen Shah Afridi (0-68) and Haris Rauf (2-83), allowing New Zealand to accumulate an impressive 113 runs in the last 10 overs.

Phillips also amazed commentators by taking a spectacular catch at point to dismiss Muhammad Rizwan.

Pakistan faced an uphill battle after an early injury to opener Fakhar Zaman, eventually being bowled out for 260 in 47.2 overs. Captain Mitchell Santner (3-66) and fast bowler Will O’Rourke (3-47) combined for six wickets, while Matt Henry put Pakistan in a difficult position during the powerplay, finishing with figures of 2-25.

Babar Azam’s struggles in his new ODI opener role continued as he managed only 64 runs off 90 balls. It was only through a late charge from No. 7 Khushdil Shah (69 off 49 balls) that Pakistan surpassed the 250-run mark, following a disappointing display from the top order.

“The way Young and Latham absorbed the pressure and scored boundaries at key moments was critical to our success,” Santner remarked.

“We were targeting a score of between 260 and 280, and this just goes to show what you can achieve when you have a solid foundation and wickets in hand.”

Pakistan, co-hosts of the World Cup in 1996, entered the tournament as the defending champions after claiming the title against India in the final of the last Champions Trophy held in England in 2017.

New Zealand arrives in Karachi buoyed by their recent success in the tri-nation series held in Pakistan last week.

Zaman was forced to leave the field after sustaining a muscular sprain to his left ribcage while chasing a ball in the first over and landing awkwardly.

Despite returning towards the end of New Zealand’s innings, he was not permitted to open in Pakistan’s innings due to a 20-minute rule.

Fast bowlers Henry and O’Rourke stifled Pakistan’s batting efforts to leave them at 2-22 within the first 10 overs, as makeshift opener Saud Shakeel (6) and Rizwan (3) struggled against their pace.

“Losing Fakhar Zaman as opener was a big blow,” said Rizwan. “We experienced a loss of momentum twice — first during the death overs and then during the powerplay.”

Shakeel misjudged O’Rourke’s delivery and was caught at third man, while Phillips executed a remarkable left-handed catch at point to dismiss Rizwan, containing the home side’s chase effectively.

The left-handed Zaman visibly battled with discomfort, managing only 24 runs off 41 balls before being bowled by Michael Bracewell (1-38) shortly after a diving catch was missed by Devon Conway at mid-wicket.

Babar’s innings concluded in the 34th over, where he top-edged a sweep against Santner, as Pakistan continued to lose wickets at regular intervals, ultimately getting bowled out with 16 balls still remaining.

Latham and Young recovered expertly, putting on 118 runs for the third wicket after New Zealand lost key batsmen Conway (10), in-form Kane Williamson (1), and Daryl Mitchell (10) early in their innings.

Williamson, who recently scored a century and a half-century in New Zealand’s tri-series victory in Pakistan, fell for just two balls, edging a delivery from Naseem Shah (2-63) behind the stumps for one of his rare low scores in ODIs.

However, Latham and Young steadied the ship brilliantly in the middle overs, with Young raising his fourth ODI century — the first scored outside New Zealand — via a sweep against leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed.

Young, who struck 12 boundaries and a flicked six off Naseem to mid-wicket, departed in the 38th over after holing out deep, but provided the perfect launchpad for Phillips’ explosive finish.

“The pitch was challenging to bat on early, but the innings from Will Young and Latham were essential,” Rizwan added. “We put in the effort, but they played smart cricket… our execution during the death overs wasn’t up to par, and that’s why they managed to set such a total.”