A disciplined bowling performance followed by a composed chase led New Zealand to a comfortable five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the tri-series final in Karachi. Opting to bat first, Pakistan struggled to build momentum on a tricky surface, posting a modest 242. New Zealand’s bowlers, spearheaded by Will O’Rourke (4-43), Mitchell Santner (2-20), and Michael Bracewell (2-38), kept the hosts in check. In reply, fifties from Daryl Mitchell (57) and Tom Latham (56) guided the Black Caps to victory with 28 balls to spare.
Pakistan’s decision to bat first at a venue known for favoring chasers raised eyebrows, but it was seen as an attempt to experiment ahead of the Champions Trophy. However, the Karachi pitch, drier and two-paced compared to the high-scoring surface used against South Africa, proved challenging. O’Rourke set the tone early, dismissing Fakhar Zaman cheaply, while Bracewell and Santner tightened the screws in the middle overs.
Babar Azam briefly shone, reaching 6,000 ODI runs in record time, but fell to a soft dismissal. Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha attempted to stabilize the innings, but both fell while trying to accelerate on a sluggish pitch. Late cameos from Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, and Naseem Shah pushed Pakistan to a respectable total, but it was never going to be enough against a well-rounded New Zealand side.
In the chase, New Zealand faced early setbacks as Naseem Shah trapped Will Young lbw. Kane Williamson (34) and Devon Conway (48) steadied the innings with a 71-run partnership, but Pakistan struck back with timely wickets. However, Mitchell and Latham’s 87-run stand turned the tide decisively in New Zealand’s favor. Despite a few dropped chances, the duo batted with authority, and Bracewell and Glenn Phillips finished the job with ease.
Brief Scores: Pakistan 242 in 49.3 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 46; Will O’Rourke 4-43, Mitchell Santner 2-20, Michael Bracewell 2-38) lost to New Zealand 243-5 in 45.2 overs (Daryl Mitchell 57, Tom Latham 56; Naseem Shah 2-43) by five wickets.
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