The New Zealand cricket team has given a solid threatening message to every team for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, as the Blackcaps won the ODI tri-series after beating the hosts Pakistan in the Final of the tournament.

In the Final of the ODI tri-series at the National Stadium in Karachi, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan chose to bat first. While Pakistan scored 242 all out, New Zealand comfortably chased down the target in 45.2 overs after losing five wickets. 

New Zealand bowlers were outstanding

Pakistan didn’t have a good start in the  Final as they only managed to score 54 runs when they lost the first three wickets. The previous-match heroes, where Pakistan successfully chased down the 353-run target against South Africa to qualify for the Final, skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha had an 88-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

While Rizwan scored 46 runs, Agha scored 45 runs. Tayyab Tahir fought hard with 38 runs, while Faheem Ashraf (22) and Naseem Shah (19) had some useful contributions in the lower order.

Among the New Zealand bowlers, Will O’Rourke bagged four wickets (4/43), while Michael Bracewell (2/38) and captain Mitchell Santner (2/20) got two wickets each. Skipper Santner was incredible with the ball as his bowling figures were 10-1-20-2.

New Zealand batting showed the value of teamwork

At chasing, although the opener Will Young (5) was dismissed in the second over, all other batters made crucial contributions to chase the target comfortably. Opener Devon Conway scored 48 runs, while the former skipper Kane Williamson scored 34 runs. Daryl Mitchell (57) and Tom Latham (56) then produced valuable 50s, while Glenn Phillips (20*) and Michael Bracewell (2*) did the finishing job successfully.

Among the Pakistan bowlers, only Naseem Shah managed to pick up more than one wicket as his bowling figures were 8-0-43-2. 

New Zealand won all three matches of the successful ODI tri-series, including beating the hosts Pakistan twice. While Will O’Rourke won the Player of the Match award in the tournament Final, where Blackcaps lifted the trophy, Pakistan cricketer Salman Agha won the Player of the Series award for scoring 219 runs and picking up one wicket in the tournament.