10.08pm The Champions Trophy is up and running, and how. Early pressure on Pakistan, something they're familiar with through their history in big tournaments, so don't count them out yet, but what about New Zealand, eh? They really look like a top side across departments, though there's still one big question mark - the inexperience of their support seamers - which hasn't yet been tested. We'll see how they cope if and when that happens. Another big game tomorrow (which game isn't?): it's India vs Bangladesh. Be sure to join our crew for that one. But from me, Vish, Raghav and Vairavan, it's good night for now.
Mitchell Santner: "I thought Pakistan bowled well, even through the middle stage, but the well Young and Latham rotated the strike and got the odd boundary really set us up. We were thinking 260-280, but it shows what you can do if you have a platform and wickets in hand. After the score we got, the first 10 overs with the ball were outstanding, the way our new-ball guys were able to smash a length. We built the run-rate pressure and were able to chip wickets throughout. We kind of expect that from Glenn [the catch], and getting Rizwan like that was outstanding. Tonight there wasn't much dew, maybe because of the wind, but hitting that slightly shorter lenght - 9-10m - was crucial for the quicks, and bowling a little slower for our spinners, we were able to get it to grip. And our ground fielding was outstanding, we were able to squeeze the new batsmen."
Mohammad Rizwan: "I think they made a very good target, we didn't expect they would get 320. We thought around 260 when we took early wickets. The Will Young-Latham partnership was crucial. We tried, but they played very smartly and that's why they got to that total. The pitch was not easy to bat early on, but Will Young and Latham's innings were crucial. Our execution in the end overs was not good, and that's why they made that score. [On Fakhar's injury] Let's see what the result from the [scan] is. We lost momentum twice, first in the death overs and then in the powerplay with the bat. Losing Fakhar Zaman [as opener] was crucial. We didn't want to put pressure on ourselves by thinking we are defending champions. This match is gone, and the next match is another normal match for us."
Tom Latham, Player of the Match: "It was a slightly different surface to the ones we played on in the tri-series. The way Will Young batted, and the way GP played towards the end were brilliant. We were able to go through the gears a little bit more and increase the run rate, and when you have wickets in hand with these short square boundaries, you can make hay towards the end. The score we made was well above par. We didn't see that in the tri-series, but with the lack of dew, and with the wind, it probably turned a little bit more in the second innings."
9.47pm What a start this is for New Zealand. They've made it 4-0 against Pakistan in Champions Trophy meetings, and 3-0 against them over the last couple of weeks, and in doing so have signalled how much of a title threat they could be. They lost the toss, were sent in with dew expected, and for a while had to battle tricky-looking conditions where the ball often stopped or kept low. But they got through that period, and supremely accomplished hundreds from Will Young and Tom Latham, and a glorious 39-ball 61 from Glenn Phillips, took them to 320. Pakistan never, ever threatened to get close. Matt Henry was incredible with his new-ball control, and Will O'Rourke was almost as good, and they suffocated Pakistan's top order to the tune of 22 for 2 in the first ten. Pakistan were hamstrung by having an injured Fakhar Zaman unable to open, and that destabilised their batting order and caused a lot of knock-on tactical issues, but they also showed a lack of inventiveness when the runs weren't coming. In the end, after that start, they did pretty well to get to within 61 runs of their target, with Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah making solid contributions. But this match was all New Zealand, almost from start to finish.
Umair Sheikh : "Thanks God we don't have to play new Zealand again."
Rodzilla : "It's that time of the year guys!! Pull out the calculators.If newnealand beats india and Pakistan beats india by more than 60 runs and then the sun sets in the east, we will be through."
Mehul: "PAK could have win easily if Babar have played better. so many dot balls by all top batsman."
Asif Inzamam: "If only Babar's Runs and balls were reversed!"
Naseem Shah b Henry 13 (27m 15b 0x4 1x6) SR: 86.66
Here is Pakistan's No. 11, Abrar Ahmed. He'll have to wait to take strike, though. Here's Henry.
yahya: "say what you want about the pitch, 22-2 in the 1st 10 is not acceptable."
SADDIQUE Ahmed: "This match is not lost. Pakistan only need two big over say 36 runs in each over."
END OF OVER:47 | 15 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 260/9 (61 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 5.53, RRR: 20.33)
- Naseem Shah13 (13b)
- Mitchell Santner10-0-66-3
- Will OâRourke9-0-47-3
Haris Rauf c Mitchell b Santner 19 (11m 10b 0x4 3x6) SR: 190
Huzaifa Ali: "I think bowling is key difference between the two teams. This was never a 320 pitch, but Pakistan leaked so many runs in the last 10, if the target was 280 the scenario would have been so much different."
END OF OVER:46 | 9 Runs | PAK: 245/8 (76 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 5.32, RRR: 19.00)
- Haris Rauf13 (8b)
- Naseem Shah4 (9b)
- Will OâRourke9-0-47-3
- Mitchell Santner9-0-51-2