New Zealand beat Pakistan by 78 runs in tri-series opener

LAHORE: Glenn Phillips scored a fiery unbeaten ton after Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell’s fifties to help New Zealand defeat Pakistan by 78 runs in the tri-nation series opener on Saturday.

Green Shirts collapsed for 252 in 47.5 overs against New Zealand at Gaddafi Stadium.

Pakistan’s chase of a mammoth 331-run target ended in disappointment, despite a promising start from opener Fakhar Zaman who top-scored with 84 off 69 balls, smashing four sixes and seven boundaries.

The team’s batting, particularly from star batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, was a disappointment as they lost their wickets scoring only 10 and 3 runs respectively.

Vice-captain Salman Ali Agha showed some fight with a 51-ball 40, but Michael Bracewell cut short his stay. Abrar Ahmed also provided some late resistance with an unbeaten 25 off 15 balls, but by then, the match had already slipped out of hands.

Haris Rauf picked up a potential injury, as he walked out in the first innings, and did not come out to bat.

New Zealand’s bowling attack was destructive, with Mitchell Santner and Matt Henry picking up three wickets each, while Bracewell took two to seal a comfortable win for the visitors.

Earlier, New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first in the first PAK vs NZ game of the series ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025.

The tourists were off to a shaky start as pacer Shaheen Afridi dismissed Will Young in the very first over of the first PAK vs NZ game.

His opening partner Rachin Ravindra was caught and bowled by spinner Abrar Ahmed, leaving the side struggling at 39 for two in 7.4 overs.

However, experienced batters Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell stitched a 95-run partnership to take New Zealand to 134 in 26.1 overs.

The former New Zealand captain was undone by Shaheen Afridi after he scored 58 off 89 balls.

Pacer Haris Rauf then dismissed wicketkeeping batter Tom Latham for a duck, bringing Glenn Phillips to the crease, who built a 65-run partnership with Daryl Mitchell.

Mitchell fell to Abrar Ahmed after an 81-run knock, laced with four sixes and two fours.

Michael Bracewell then joined Phillips and the two took New Zealand to 200 in 37.4 overs before the former became Shaheen Afridi’s third victim after scoring 31 off 23 balls.

Glenn Phillips then launched a late-inning onslaught on the Pakistan bowling lineup and remained unbeaten on 106 off 74 deliveries to take New Zealand to 330 in 50 overs for the loss of six wickets. Phillips hit seven sixes and six fours.

Pakistan Playing XI:

Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan, (c) (wk), Tayyab Tahir, Salman Agha, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Abrar Ahmed.

New Zealand Playing XI:

Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Ben Sears, Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke.