Karachi, by (Zeeshan Hussain) New Zealand secured a convincing five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the final of the tri-nation ODI series, chasing down the 243-run target with 28 balls to spare.
Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham played pivotal roles in the chase, stitching an 87-run fourth-wicket stand. Both batsmen struck half-centuries, with Mitchell scoring 57 runs off 58 balls and Latham gathering 56 runs from 64 deliveries.
Latham also partnered with Glenn Phillips for a 31-ball 37-run stand for the fifth wicket, helping New Zealand chase the target in 45.2 overs. The hosts drew first blood when Naseem Shah pinned Will Young in front of the stumps in the second over.
Kane Williamson and Devon Conway then joined forces, stitching a solid 71-run stand for the second wicket. Williamson scored 34 runs, while Conway contributed 48 runs. For Pakistan, Naseem picked up two wickets, while Salman Ali Agha, Abrar Ahmed, and Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed one batter each.
Earlier, Pakistan opted to bat first but lost Fakhar Zaman in the fourth over to player of the match Will O’Rourke. Pakistan slipped to 54-3 in 11.5 overs before middle-order batters Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha dug deep for an 88-run stand.
Rizwan scored 46 runs, while Salman contributed 45 runs. Their partnership helped stabilize the innings, but Pakistan ultimately managed to post 242-9 in 50 overs. O’Rourke was the pick of New Zealand bowlers, claiming four wickets for 43 runs.
Pakistan and New Zealand will face each other again in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the same venue on Wednesday, 19 February.
