Pakistan vs New Zealand, Champions Trophy Highlights: New Zealand defeat Pakistan by 60 runs

That’s the game! New Zealand clinch victory by 60 runs. Naseem Shah attempts another scoop over fine leg but misses as Henry fires in a full delivery at the stumps, cleaning him up.

Naseem Shah b Henry 13 (15b, 0x4, 1×6) SR: 86.66

Santner to Haris Rauf, OUT! Haris Rauf departs after a quickfire 19 off 10 balls, caught by Mitchell off Santner.

Previous delivery: Santner tossed it up outside off, right in Rauf’s hitting arc. He freed his arms and dispatched it cleanly over the long-on boundary for a six.

Pakistan reach 245/8, requiring 76 runs from 24 balls at a required run rate of 19.00. Haris Rauf is on 13 off 8 balls with two sixes, while Naseem Shah holds 4 off 9. Will O’Rourke has figures of 9-0-47-3, and Mitchell Santner has bowled 9-0-51-2.

Haris Rauf smashes Santner for a massive six, sending the ball soaring high into the sky. Stepping down the track, he moves leg-side to create room and swings with full force. The ball gains extreme height as Mitchell chases it towards long-on, but it just clears him and lands beyond the boundary.

Khushdil Shah’s impressive innings came to an end as he was dismissed by O’Rourke for 69 runs off 49 balls. After a valiant effort, which included 10 fours and a six, Khushdil’s flat-bat hit off a short delivery climbed too high and ended up in the hands of Bracewell at long-on. Despite the timing of his departure, Khushdil’s knock played a crucial role in keeping Pakistan’s net run rate in check, offering hope for the team’s progression in the tournament if he continues to perform like this.

Pakistan stand at 225/7 after 43 overs, with a required run rate of 13.71, needing 96 runs from 42 balls. Khushdil Shah is leading the charge with 65 off 45 balls, including nine fours and a six, while Naseem Shah is at the crease with 2 off 3. Matt Henry has bowled seven overs, conceding 25 runs for one wicket, while Will O’Rourke has figures of 7-0-35-2.

Pakistan are 213/7, while New Zealand were in a stronger position at the same stage, reaching 215/4.

O’Rourke to Khushdil, 1 wide

Khushdil steps out, and O’Rourke opts for the wide bouncer again. This time, it’s deemed too wide by the umpire as Khushdil reaches out but fails to make contact.

O’Rourke to Khushdil, FOUR runs

Short and outside off, Khushdil capitalizes as it sits up nicely, swatting it past forward square leg for a boundary.

O’Rourke to Khushdil, FOUR runs

Another short one from O’Rourke, climbing awkwardly towards Khushdil’s throat, cramping him for room on the pull. Conway rushes in from deep forward square leg but can’t get there in time as the ball bounces past him to the ropes.

A well-earned breakthrough. Short and angling away from off stump, with some extra bounce. Shaheen clears his front leg for a pull but only manages a top edge, safely taken by Latham behind the stumps.

Flighted outside off, perfectly in Khushdil’s arc as he extends his arms for a powerful slog-sweep against the turn, sending it over the long-on boundary.

At the end of 38 overs, Pakistan stands at 183/6, requiring 138 runs from 72 balls at a required run rate of 11.50. Khushdil Shah is playing a crucial knock, scoring 32 off 23 balls with five boundaries, while Shaheen Shah Afridi has contributed 10 off 8 balls, including a six. Glenn Phillips has been expensive, conceding 54 runs in his eight overs without a wicket, while Michael Bracewell has been more economical with figures of 9-1-34-1.

Michael Bracewell delivers, but Khushdil Shah executes a brilliant sweep! Getting down low, almost parallel to the ground, he uses his reach to send the ball flat and hard through the midwicket gap for a boundary. Pakistan will need many more of these as the required run rate remains high.

At the end of 35 overs, Pakistan stands at 156/6, requiring 165 more runs from 90 balls at a steep required run rate of 11.00. Khushdil Shah remains at the crease with 14 off 12 balls, including one boundary, while Shaheen Shah Afridi has just arrived, scoring 1 off 1. Michael Bracewell has been economical with figures of 8-1-25-1, while Mitchell Santner has bowled 7 overs, conceding 34 runs and has taken 2 wickets. Pakistan needs a miraculous partnership to stay in the chase.

Babar Azam‘s resilient knock comes to an end! Attempting another sweep, he misjudges Santner’s holding length, which dips at the last moment. The ball takes the top edge, looping high into the air before Williamson comfortably settles under it. A crucial wicket for New Zealand as Babar departs after a well-compiled 64 off 90 balls.

Babar Azam showcases his class with a beautifully timed shot. Santner flights it full at 77.9 kph, but Babar stays composed and smears it through midwicket along the carpet. A perfect display of placement and control, finding the gap with precision for a well-earned boundary!

Khushdil Shah displays brilliant timing as he dispatches Smith for a boundary. The delivery was slightly shorter and tighter than the previous one, but Khushdil’s outstanding hands ensured perfect execution. He met the ball right on top of the bounce, striking it sweetly from the middle of the bat to send it racing to the boundary. A classy shot under pressure!

Mitchell Santner gets a crucial breakthrough as Tayyab Tahir departs cheaply. Bowling from wide of the crease, Santner delivered a 90kph short ball into the surface. The delivery sat up but remained straight, preventing Tayyab from getting a proper swing on it. Attempting to slap it towards midwicket, he ended up offering a simple catch to Kane Williamson, positioned close on the leg side. New Zealand continues to tighten its grip on the game.

Tayyab Tahir c Williamson b Santner 1 (5b, 0x4, 0x6) SR: 20

Pakistan struggling as key wickets fell. New Zealand has been bowling exceptionally well. Pakistan need 200 runs in nearly 20.4 overs

At the end of 25 overs, Pakistan stands at 83/3, requiring 238 runs from the remaining 25 overs with a rising required run rate of 9.52. The current run rate is 3.32, indicating the need for acceleration. Babar Azam is anchoring the innings with 41 off 67 balls, including five boundaries, while Salman Agha has started positively with 8 runs off 9 deliveries, hitting one four. Glenn Phillips has bowled economically, conceding 21 runs in his five overs without taking a wicket, while Mitchell Santner has given away 9 runs in his 2 overs. Pakistan needs to pick up the scoring rate soon to stay in the chase.

At the end of 23 overs, Pakistan is struggling at 72/3, needing 249 runs from 27 overs with a required run rate of 9.22. The current run rate stands at 3.13, highlighting the pressure on the batting side. Babar Azam is holding the innings together with 38 off 62 balls, including five boundaries, while Salman Agha is yet to get off the mark after facing two deliveries. On the bowling front, Michael Bracewell has been economical, returning figures of 7-1-22-1, while Mitchell Santner has bowled just one over, conceding a single run. With the run rate climbing and wickets down, Pakistan will need to accelerate soon to stay in contention.

Michael Bracewell strikes! Fakhar Zaman is bowled for 24 off 41 balls, bringing silence to the stands. The left-hander, who suffered an unfortunate injury in the first over, battled on but eventually perished while attempting a slog sweep. Having been dropped in the previous over, Fakhar tried the same shot again, but this time, Bracewell skidded one through to crash into the middle stump.

Pakistan now finds itself in deeper trouble, losing another key wicket in a difficult chase.

At the end of 18 overs, Pakistan stands at 60/2, maintaining a current run rate (CRR) of 3.33 while requiring 8.15 runs per over to reach the target. They need 261 more runs from 32 overs. Babar Azam remains unbeaten at 30 off 44 balls, including five boundaries, while Fakhar Zaman is at the crease with 20 runs from 31 balls, hitting three fours. Glenn Phillips has bowled three overs, conceding 17 runs without taking a wicket, while Michael Bracewell has delivered a tight spell of four overs, giving away just 12 runs and securing a maiden over.

At the end of 16 overs, Pakistan stands at 55/2, with a current run rate (CRR) of 3.43 and a required run rate (RRR) of 7.82. They need 266 more runs from 34 overs. Babar Azam is unbeaten on 27 off 41 balls, hitting five boundaries, while Fakhar Zaman has scored 18 off 22 balls with three fours. Glenn Phillips has bowled 2 overs for 12 runs without a wicket, and Michael Bracewell has conceded 12 runs in his 3 overs.

At the end of 13 overs, Pakistan stands at 35/2, struggling to keep up with the required run rate, which has now climbed to 7.72. They need 286 more runs from 37 overs. Fakhar Zaman is on 4 off 10 balls, while Babar Azam holds the crease with 21 off 35 balls, including four boundaries. Michael Bracewell has been economical, conceding just four runs in his two overs, while Will O’Rourke has been the key bowler for New Zealand, with figures of 6-0-22-2.

Will O’Rourke delivers a back-of-a-length ball outside off, but Babar Azam expertly waits and guides it fine past deep third for a crucial four. Pakistan desperately needed that boundary as they look to build momentum in their chase.

New Zealand keeps the pressure on as Pakistan reaches 24/2 after 11 overs. Fakhar Zaman is on 1 off 3 balls, while Babar Azam remains steady at 13 from 30 deliveries, including two boundaries. Will O’Rourke continues his impressive spell with figures of 5-0-13-2, while Michael Bracewell concedes just 2 runs in his first over. Pakistan needs 297 runs from 39 overs with a required run rate of 7.61.

Will O’Rourke strikes again! Mohammad Rizwan departs for just 3 off 14 balls after a brilliant one-handed catch by Glenn Phillips at backward point. Rizwan attempted a fierce uppercut but failed to get the desired elevation, allowing Phillips to pull off an acrobatic grab. Pakistan is now struggling at 21/2, with the required run rate climbing further.

Pakistan adds just two runs in the ninth over, reaching 21/1. Babar Azam remains on 11 off 22 balls with two boundaries, while Mohammad Rizwan is on 3 off 13 deliveries. New Zealand’s pacers continue to keep things tight, with Matt Henry (5-1-9-0) and Will O’Rourke (4-0-12-1) maintaining control. The required run rate now climbs to 7.31, with Pakistan needing 300 runs from 41 overs.

Pakistan adds five runs in the eighth over, moving to 19/1. Babar Azam, with two boundaries to his name, is on 10 off 18 balls, while Mohammad Rizwan is on 2 off 11. New Zealand’s bowlers continue to keep things tight, with Will O’Rourke (4-0-12-1) and Matt Henry (4-1-7-0) maintaining the pressure. Pakistan now needs 302 runs from 42 overs, with the required run rate climbing to 7.19.

New Zealand continues to apply pressure as Matt Henry delivers a maiden over, keeping Pakistan at 14/1 after seven overs. The required run rate rises to 7.13, with Babar Azam on 6 off 16 balls and Mohammad Rizwan on 1 off 7. Henry (4-1-7-0) and Will O’Rourke (3-0-7-1) have kept the scoring rate in check, making it a challenging start for Pakistan.