KARACHI: Despite injuries to Lockie Ferguson, Ben Sears, Matt Henry, and Rachin Ravindra, New Zealand secured the tri-series title in Karachi, sending a warning to the hosts just five days before they meet again in the Champions Trophy opener at the same venue. With the senior fast bowlers unavailable, Will O’Rourke stepped up remarkably, taking four wickets, while the spinners, led by Mitchell Santner, constrained Pakistan in the middle overs, limiting them to 242 runs.
The New Zealand batters then completed the chase on a tricky surface, reaching the target with 28 balls and five wickets in hand. Devon Conway and Kane Williamson laid the foundation with a 71-run partnership for the second wicket. Daryl Mitchell aggressively attacked during the middle overs, confounding Pakistan’s spinners with various sweeps, including reverse sweeps. He formed an 87-run partnership with Tom Latham, showcasing New Zealand’s dominance in that phase before Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips finished the job.
Phillips had begun the tri-series with an impressive unbeaten 106 off 74 balls, marking his maiden One Day International (ODI) century against Pakistan. Kane Williamson then reminded everyone of his exceptional skills with an unbeaten century in New Zealand’s second match of the tri-series against South Africa. Tom Latham, who had previously been dismissed for ducks in those two matches and another against Sri Lanka in Auckland last month, made a timely return to form, solidifying his position as New Zealand’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter with a score of 56 runs off 64 balls.
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