New Zealand defeated Pakistan by five wickets to win the tri-nations series final at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi. Will O’Rourke’s four wickets limited Pakistan to 242 runs, while half-centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham led New Zealand to 243 runs in 45.2 overs. The victory boosts New Zealand’s confidence ahead of the Champions Trophy opener against Pakistan.
New Zealand triumphed over Pakistan by five wickets in the tri-nations series final held at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium. Pace bowler Will O’Rourke was pivotal in New Zealand’s success, claiming four wickets for 43 runs, which facilitated the dismissal of Pakistan for 242 runs in 49.3 overs. Following this, half-centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham helped the Black Caps chase down the target, finishing at 243 for 5 in just 45.2 overs.
The match provided New Zealand with a significant morale boost ahead of their upcoming Champions Trophy opener against Pakistan at the same venue. Despite a shaky start losing opener Will Young early, Devon Conway and Kane Williamson formed a crucial 71-run partnership that steadied New Zealand’s innings before both were dismissed. At one point, the tourists were struggling at 108 for 3 but were rescued by a solid fourth-wicket partnership between Mitchell and Latham.
Mitchell scored 57 runs off 58 balls, and Latham contributed 56 runs, with their partnership of 87 runs proving decisive. New Zealand’s chase was further supported by Glenn Phillips, who scored an unbeaten 20 runs. Naseem Shah stood out for Pakistan’s bowling attack, managing to claim 2 wickets for 43 runs across his eight overs.
Earlier in the match, Pakistan’s innings was bolstered by skipper Mohammad Rizwan, who was top scorer with 46 runs from 76 balls, and Salman Agha, who contributed with a 45-run knock. Pakistan struggled against New Zealand’s spinners, including Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell, who took 2 wickets each to restrict the host team. In total, Pakistan lost their openers early and struggled at various points, eventually scraping past 240 runs.
Babar Azam reached a milestone of 6,000 runs in ODIs during his innings of 29 runs, becoming the fastest joint player to achieve this alongside Hashim Amla. However, his dismissal signaled a decline in Pakistan’s innings momentum, affecting their chances for a competitive total as they lost wickets in quick succession. Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, and Naseem Shah chipped in with valuable runs towards the end, but it wasn’t enough to challenge New Zealand effectively.
Overall, New Zealand’s comprehensive performance in the tri-nations final showcased strong bowling and solid batting, clinching the match and the series. Will O’Rourke’s exceptional bowling laid the foundation, while Mitchell and Latham’s contributions in the batting department secured the victory. Pakistan, despite showing glimpses of resilience, could not muster a challenging total and will need to regroup before their next match against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy.
Original Source: www.dawn.com
