Pakistan began the Champions Trophy 2025 marketing campaign with a 60-run loss towards New Zealand in Karachi on Wednesday. Chasing an enormous 321-run goal, Pakistan’s by no means actually took off because the top-order batters performed painfully gradual knocks. Within the first 10 overs, Pakistan scored simply 22/2 with Babar Azam on 12* (27b) and Mohammad Rizwan on 3* (14b). In 15 overs, Pakistan reached 49/2 with Babar on 22* (37b) and in 20 overs, they scored simply 66/2. The run-scoring tempo solely picked up when Salman Agha got here to the crease. He performed a fluent knock (42, 28b).
Ravichandran Ashwin took observe of Babar’s knock and stated it reminded him of “The Tortoise and Rabbit story”.
Babar’s journey to 50 coupled with Salman Ali Agha’s batting must be one of the best depiction of ” The Tortoise and Rabbit story” . #ChampionsTrophy
The 50 I hope will come quickly sufficient
— Ashwin (@ashwinravi99) February 19, 2025
Sluggishness and conservative are two phrases, that would outline Pakistan’s run-chase of 321 runs towards New Zealand of their ICC Champions Trophy marketing campaign opener because the defending champions had been downed by 60 runs at Karachi on Wednesday.
That is NZ’s fourth win towards Pakistan within the CT, and it has by no means misplaced a match towards the defending champions. Issues usually are not wanting good for Pakistan, as their subsequent match towards arch-rivals India will probably be a digital knockout. Saud Shakeel, skipper Mohammed Rizwan, and Babar Azam’s gradual knocks let down their workforce badly.
In a run chase of 321 runs, Pakistan was off to a poor begin as Saud Shakeel fell to Will O’Rourke for six (in 19 balls) after a thick edge off his bat went to Matt Henry at third man. Pakistan was 8/1 in 3.4 overs.
Pakistan skipper Mohammed Rizwan and Babar Azam joined forces, enjoying some actually conservative cricket to finish the primary 10 overs at 22/2, with skipper Rizwan being eliminated due to a surprising diving effort by Glenn Phillips for 3 (14), giving O’Rourke his second scalp.
Babar was joined by Fakhar Zaman, with the latter bringing some tremendous photographs to make use of. Due to a 4 by Babar, Pakistan reached the 50-run mark in 15.2 overs.
Fakhar was attempting to indicate some intent, however a ball by Michael Bracewell deceived him, cleansing his stumps. Pakistan was 67/3 in 20.5 overs.
Then got here Salman Agha on the crease, contrasting his audacious hits with a conservative Babar. Pakistan reached the 100-run mark in 27.1 overs.
Agha was taking up spinners properly, however Babar’s gradual knock put strain on him. He gave away his wicket to Nathan Smith for 28-ball 42, with six fours and a six. Pakistan was 127/4 in 30.4 overs.
Babar accomplished his thirty fifth ODI fifty in 81 balls with 5 fours.
Santner additionally bought Tayyab Tahir for 1, placing half the workforce within the pavillion for 128 runs. He additionally put Babar’s sluggish knock to an finish at 90-ball 64, with six fours and a six. Pakistan was 153/6 in 34 overs.
After Babar’s dismissal, the run fee went up, with Khushdil Shah hitting some boundaries towards spinners.
Khushdil helped Pakistan attain the 200-run mark in 41 overs.
Shaheen was eliminated by Matt Henry for 14 in 13 balls, with a six. Pakistan was 200/7 in 41 overs.
Khushdil reached his half-century in 38 balls, with six fours and a six. A 29-run stand between Shah and Haris Rauf was undone by O’Rourke, eradicating Shah for 69 in 49 balls, with 10 fours and 6. Pakistan was 229/8 in 44 overs.
Rauf and Naseem Shah entertained the gang with some massive hits, however Santner eliminated Rauf for 19 in 10 balls, with three sixes. The final wicket was taken by Henry, who cleaned up Naseem Shah for 13 in 15 balls. Pakistan was skittled out for 260 runs in 47.2 overs.
O’Rourke (3/47) and Santner (3/66) had been prime bowlers for NZ. Matt Henry took two wickets, with Bracewell and Nathan getting a wicket every.
With ANI inputs
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