New Zealand Crushes Pakistan by 78 Runs in Tri-Series
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore – February 8, 2025
Match Summary
Hello friends, welcome to our blog ‘New Zealand Crushes Pakistan by 78 Runs in Tri-Series’. New Zealand dominated Pakistan in the first ODI of the tri-nation series, winning by 78 runs. After winning the toss, New Zealand chose to bat and posted a massive 330/6 in 50 overs. Pakistan struggled in their chase, collapsing to 252 All Out in 47.5 overs. Glenn Phillips’ explosive century and Mitchell Santner’s three-wicket haul sealed the victory for the Kiwis.
Key Performances
New Zealand Batting
- *Glenn Phillips (106 runs in 74 balls)**: The Star of the Match! Phillips smashed 7 sixes and 6 fours, accelerating New Zealand’s total in the final overs. His unbeaten century earned him the Player of the Match award.
- Daryl Mitchell (81 runs in 84 balls): He anchored the innings with 4 sixes and 2 fours, building a strong partnership with Kane Williamson.
- Kane Williamson (58 runs in 89 balls): The former captain played a slow but steady knock, hitting 7 boundaries.
- Michael Bracewell (31 runs in 23 balls): His quick cameo in the final overs helped New Zealand cross.
Pakistan Bowling
- Shaheen Afridi (3 wickets for 88 runs): Took early wickets but was expensive, conceding 25 runs in the final over alone.
- Abrar Ahmed (2 wickets for 41 runs): The spinner controlled the middle overs with tight bowling.
Pakistan Batting
- Fakhar Zaman (84 runs in 69 balls): Gave Pakistan hope with 4 sixes and 7 fours before being dismissed by Phillips.
- Salman Agha (40 runs) & Tayyab Tahir (30 runs): Tried to stabilize the innings but fell short.
- Babar Azam (10 runs) & Mohammad Rizwan (3 runs): The star batters failed to deliver, with Rizwan falling lbw to Santner.
New Zealand Bowling
- Mitchell Santner (3 wickets for 41 runs): Broke Pakistan’s middle order with his spin.
- Matt Henry (3 wickets for 53 runs): Cleaned up the tail to secure the win.
Scorecard Highlights
| Team | Score | Top Performers |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 330/6 (50 overs) | Phillips 106*, Mitchell 81 |
| Pakistan | 252 all out (47.5 overs) | Fakhar 84, Salman 40 |
FAQs (New Zealand Crushes Pakistan by 78 Runs in Tri-Series)
1. Why did Pakistan lose?
Pakistan’s middle order collapsed after Fakhar Zaman’s dismissal. Key players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan failed to score big, and their bowlers leaked 123 runs in the last 10 overs.
2. Who was the Player of the Match?
Glenn Phillips for his match-winning century and taking Fakhar Zaman’s wicket.
3. How did Shaheen Afridi perform?
He took 3 wickets but gave away 88 runs, including 25 in the final over to Phillips.
4. What’s next in the series?
New Zealand will face South Africa on February 10. The final is scheduled for February 14 in Karachi.
5. Were there any injuries?
Yes! Haris Rauf (Pakistan) left the field with a side strain, and Rachin Ravindra (NZ) was hit in the face while fielding.
Upcoming Matches
- Feb 10: New Zealand vs South Africa, Lahore
- Feb 14: Tri-Series Final, Karachi
New Zealand’s strong start makes them favorites for the Champions Trophy later this month