New Zealand’s players pose for photo with trophy after winning the tri-series final against Pakistan, in Karachi, Pakistan, on February 14, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AP

Pace bowler Will O’Rourke claimed four wickets while Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham hit half centuries as New Zealand defeated Pakistan by five wickets to clinch the tri-nations series final on Friday (February 14, 2025).

O’Rourke’s 4-43 helped the tourists dismiss Pakistan for 242 in 49.3 overs before Mitchell’s 58-ball 57 anchored the chase as the Black Caps finished on 243-5 in 45.2 overs at Karachi’s National stadium.

The victory gives the New Zealanders a timely boost ahead of the Champions Trophy opener against the same opponents at this venue on Wednesday.

New Zealand lost opener Will Young in pacer Naseem Shah’s first over for five before Devon Conway (48) and Kane Williamson (34) steadied the chase with a second wicket stand of 71.

Williamson lost his wicket while charging down the wicket against spinner Salman Agha while Naseem returned for his second spell to dismiss Conway.

At 108-3 the tourists’ chase wobbled but Mitchell found an able ally in Latham (56) as the two added 87 for the fourth wicket.

When Mitchell fell caught and bowled off spinner Abrar Ahmed the tourists needed just 48 runs which Latham and Glenn Phillips (20 not out) reduced to ten.

Mitchell hit six boundaries in his knock while Latham’s 64-ball innings featured five fours.

Naseem was the pick of an otherwise ineffective Pakistan bowling attack with 2-43 off eight overs.

“It is nice to win tonight,” said New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner.

“Different guys stepping up at different times is good but it means nothing till we play that first game at the Champions Trophy.”

Losing captain Mohammad Rizwan gave credit to New Zealand’s bowlers.

– ‘Lost our way’ -

“We were looking at a target of 280 plus but their bowlers put a squeeze on us,” said Rizwan.

“We ended up 15 runs short as my wicket was crucial and we lost our way.”

Earlier, spinners Santner (2-20) and Michael Bracewell (2-38) backed up O’Rourke to ensure Pakistan did not post a big total.

Rizwan top-scored with a 76-ball 46, while Salman Agha hit 45 off 65 balls as slow and variable bounce on the National stadium pitch proved tough for batting.

Pakistan lost opener Fakhar Zaman to O’Rourke in the fourth over for 10 and then Saud Shakeel for eight.

Babar Azam looked good for his 29 runs, hitting four boundaries and a six, and reached 6,000 runs scored in one-day internationals when he was on 10.

He was playing his 123rd innings, the joint fastest to reach the 6,000-run milestone with South African Hashim Amla.

Azam fell to a miscued shot off Nathan Smith, leaving Pakistan struggling at 54-3.

Rizwan and Agha, who shared a match-winning 260-run partnership against South Africa on Wednesday, then revived the innings with an 88-run stand.

Rizwan hit four boundaries and a six but he and Agha fell within 19 runs of each other to end any hope of a challenging total.

Tayyab Tahir hit a 33-ball 38, also with four boundaries and a six, while Faheem Ashraf (22) and Naseem (19) added 39 invaluable runs to get Pakistan past 240.

India’s captain Rohit Sharma and Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam
| Photo Credit: K.R. Deepak

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reached out to the BCCI and proposed an arrangement allowing India to return to either New Delhi or Chandigarh in between matches during the Champions Trophy next year if the team is not willing to stay in Pakistan due to security reasons.

The PCB has “verbally” suggested to the BCCI that the Indian team can set up a camp in either New Delhi or Chandigarh/Mohali and use chartered flights to travel to Lahore for their matches.

A PCB source though confirmed to PTI on Friday (October 18, 2024) that the board had not made any suggestions in writing to their Indian counterparts.

“But yes it is true that these options have been discussed verbally between officials as a way to ensure that India plays its matches in Pakistan,” the source said.

The Champions Trophy is slated to take place from February 19 to March 9, with matches scheduled in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi.

Due to its proximity to the Indian border and logistical ease, the PCB has planned India’s matches in Lahore.

India’s three group-stage matches in the tournament are slated for February 20 (against Bangladesh), February 23 (against Pakistan), and March 2 (against New Zealand).

The PCB is however adamant that the final must be held in Lahore regardless of whether India plays in Pakistan or not.

The Indian team has long gap between its group matches and Lahore is located close to the Indian border.

The ICC is considering a hybrid model for the tournament, with some matches played outside of Pakistan.

The hybrid model is being considered due to India’s unlikely participation in the tournament, as they have not toured Pakistan since 2008.

The ICC is exploring alternative venues, such as Dubai and Sri Lanka, to host the matches.