The New Zealand cricket team achieved a significant victory in their opening match of the 2025 Champions Trophy against Pakistan on Wednesday. After setting a target of 321 runs, they successfully limited the hosts to 260 runs in 47.2 overs, securing a win by 60 runs. Will O’Rourke and Mitchell Santner excelled with the ball, each claiming three wickets and dismantling Pakistan’s batting lineup.

This victory allowed New Zealand to navigate their initial challenge in the tournament, positioning them favorably for qualification to the next round, provided they do not suffer a defeat against Bangladesh. In addition to Pakistan, India is also considered a formidable opponent in Group A.

Despite New Zealand's strong performance, Shikhar Dhawan does not regard them as frontrunners for the championship title. In a video shared on Instagram, Ross Taylor inquired whether Dhawan believed New Zealand could clinch the title, to which Dhawan responded with laughter, expressing disbelief at the question.

Here is the video:

In the match, Tom Latham (118*) and Will Young (107) played pivotal roles, helping New Zealand to a total of 320/5 in their allotted 50 overs. Following the match, Latham remarked, “It certainly helps to have prior experience on the pitch. I felt pleased to contribute; Will Young played exceptionally well, and reaching 320 was fantastic. My focus upon entering was to build a partnership, which we managed to do while also increasing the run rate. GP came in and delivered another outstanding performance, providing us with the momentum needed for the second innings. Towards the end, our goal was to maximize our runs, and I am glad we achieved that. The absence of dew today allowed the ball to turn significantly, making it advantageous to bowl second under those conditions.”

New Zealand's next match is against Bangladesh on Monday, followed by a crucial encounter with India in their final group stage game.

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