A wide gets New Zealand the win and the tri-nation trophy. Banged in short but that is too short. Called a wide and is enough to give NZ victory by five wickets and 28 balls to spare.
Pakistan vs New Zealand, Final at Karachi, Tri-Nation, Feb 14 2025 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
Final (D/N), Karachi, February 14, 2025, Pakistan Tri-Nation Series
PrevNext
242
(45.2/50 ov, T:243) 243/5
New Zealand won by 5 wickets (with 28 balls remaining)
New
NZ
Full commentary
Mitchell Santner goes up to collect the winner's trophy. He is joined by his team-mates. All smiles in the camp as they pose with the trophy. An important box ticked for them as they head into the Champions Trophy which begins in five days at this very venue. We will be in nice and early for when that starts. Till then, this is me Ashish Pant, signing off on behalf of Deivarayan Muthu, Sudeep and Thilak. Ciao!
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner: [Ticked the boxes?] I guess so. It is nice to win tonight. Different guys stepping up at different times is good. It means nothing till we play that first game at the CT. [Pitch] It was a bit slower than what we thought it would be. We just wanted to put in a good spot and build pressure. If we take wickets up front, it makes the job easier in the middle. [O'Rourke] When he is swinging the ball like that, he is a problem for batters. The batting powerplay is important. It's always a challenge with the new ball. Dufs [Duffy] also bowled well. [On Latham] He is pretty relieved as well. We know how good he is and it was just a matter of time. It was nice for different guys to fire as well.
Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan: [Bat first] We wanted to bat first because we thought in the second half, the pitch would be tough. But their bowlers put a squeeze on us. We were looking to target 280 but they got it back. We were 15 runs short. They were bowling very well. Me and Agha were trying to build the stand. We tried doing that, but they were not giving us the balls. We kept the target to 280, not 300. My wicket was crucial. [Fielding] We have to bring the improvement. This is one department we are lacking. [Abrar] He has really improved. The others have to improve as well. [CT'25] We wanted to prepare for the 19th as well. So that is why we wanted to bat first as well.
Salman Agha is the player of the series: I am batting well. We wanted to win, but that didn't happen. The focus will be on the CT. [Surface] This can be expected from Karachi. One wicket will be a belter, one will be two paced. I love batting. It was a challenging pitch to bat on. The pitch was gripping. It was a 280-290 wicket. We were 30 runs short. But my wicket and then Rizwan's wicket took the game away from us.
Will O'Rourke is the player of the match for his 4 for 43: [First spell] There was a nice breeze coming across and it helped me push the ball across the left-hander. The pitch was two paced and I just tried to whack the wicket hard. [Second spell] Pretty similar. Heavy length. I wanted to get something out of the wicket. [Lead up to the CT'25] The boys are playing nicely and to get into a big tournament with momentum is nice. [Bowl faster?] Not sure about that. Will try my best.
Presentation time
Here's a stat from Shubham Agarwal:
New Zealand vs Pakistan in tournament finals
1996 - lost by 41 runs
2003 - won by 4 wickets
2025 - won by 5 wickets
9.37pm All smiles in the NZ change room. What a comprehensive win for them and what a way to announce their readiness for the Champions Trophy. Three games in the series, three easy wins for them. Twice against Pakistan, once against South Africa. They will play Pakistan again in five days, right here and the confidence of these wins will surely keep them in good stead. The win was set up by the bowlers, who restricted Pakistan to 242. Devon Conway, Kane Williamson gave NZ a good start before the Mitchell-Latham stand took them closer. Latham had his chances but got back to his run-scoring self and that is excellent news for NZ. Nothing really went to plan for Pakistan and they need to iron out a few things before the CT opener on the 19th. Do hang around for the presentation.
Sufyan: "My MOM is Mitch Santner for his 20/2 in 10 overs, he led his team from the front, deserved winner of trophy."
Scores level
45.2
2
Faheem to Phillips, 2 runs
Trouble, but the throw is too high. Good length ball outside off, he squirts it off the inside half of the bat to deep square leg. Phillips dives, but a foo throw would have had him in trouble
45.1
4
Faheem to Phillips, FOUR runs
Top-edge but safe and goes for four as well. Sharp bouncer on off. Phillips goes for a pull, isn't in control, but still gets a four to deep fine leg
Faheem Ashraf back on from over the wicket
Jim: "Will Mitchell, Latham or Wides be POTM?"
end of over 454 runs • 1 wicket
NZ: 236/5CRR: 5.24 • RRR: 1.40 • Need 7 runs from 30b
Glenn Phillips14 (15b 1x4)
Michael Bracewell2 (3b)
Shaheen Shah Afridi 9-0-45-1
Abrar Ahmed 10-0-67-1
44.6
1
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Phillips, 1 run
Short of a length delivery on Phillips hips which he helps to deep fine leg
44.5
1
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Michael Bracewell, 1 run
Banged in short on off, he gets across and pulls to deep square leg for a run
44.4
1
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Phillips, 1 run
On a length on middle and leg, he works this to deep backward square leg for a run
rssampat: "A Hat-Trick to bring a little bit of surprise element back in this game??"
44.3
1
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Michael Bracewell, 1 run
Bouncer on middle, he mistimes the pull to deep square leg
44.2
•
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Michael Bracewell, no run
Banged in short, Bracewell ducks under
Michael Bracewell comes in with NZ requiring 11 more to lift the tri-series trophy
44.1
W
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Latham, OUT
Chance again and this time the catch is taken. Latham departs but not before doing significant damage. Banged in short on off. He can't control the pull and the top-edge carries to deep fine leg. Abrar sprints in quickly, dives forward and completes the catch. He's sprained the back of his neck in the process, but Pakistan will be glad to see the back of Latham. Too late, you'd have to think, surely.
Tom Latham c Abrar Ahmed b Shaheen Shah Afridi 56 (64b 5x4 0x6 87m) SR: 87.5
Adnan: "Where is Rauf?" Nursing a low-grade side strain
end of over 448 runs
NZ: 232/4CRR: 5.27 • RRR: 1.83 • Need 11 runs from 36b
Glenn Phillips12 (13b 1x4)
Tom Latham56 (63b 5x4)
Abrar Ahmed 10-0-67-1
Khushdil Shah 6-0-22-0
43.6
•
Abrar Ahmed to Phillips, no run
Flatter length ball outside off, he stays back and brings out a fierce cut. Can't beat point though
43.5
•
Abrar Ahmed to Phillips, no run
Flatter on off, he defends back to the bowler
43.4
1
Abrar Ahmed to Latham, 1 run
Fullish in length on the pads of Latham who works this to deep midwicket
43.3
•
Abrar Ahmed to Latham, no run
Brings out the reverse again to the length ball on off, can't beat short third though
43.3
1w
Abrar Ahmed to Latham, 1 wide
Flatter down leg, called a wide
43.2
4
Abrar Ahmed to Latham, FOUR runs
Tossed up outside off, he brings out the reverse sweep again and gets this to the right of short third. What a confidence booster this innings has been for Latham
43.1
2
Abrar Ahmed to Latham, 2 runs
Fifty for Latham. A welcome return for him after three back-to-back ducks in ODIs. He's had his chances, but his form is extremely critical for NZ. And he's got there with a neat clip past fine leg. Raises his bat to the dressing room. Must be extremely relieved with that
end of over 433 runs
NZ: 224/4CRR: 5.20 • RRR: 2.71 • Need 19 runs from 42b
Glenn Phillips12 (11b 1x4)
Tom Latham49 (59b 4x4)
Khushdil Shah 6-0-22-0
Abrar Ahmed 9-0-59-1
42.6
•
Khushdil to Phillips, no run
Wow, that skidded very low! Pushed quicker outside off on the shorter side. Phillips goes back looking for a cut but is beaten by the lack of bounce
42.5
1
Khushdil to Latham, 1 run
On a length on middle and leg, he tucks this past square leg
42.4
•
Khushdil to Latham, no run
Stifle appeal but the impact was outside off. Shimmies down the track looking to clip the tossed up delivery through midwicket. Misses and wears it on his pad.
42.3
•
Khushdil to Latham, no run
Pushed quicker on leg stump, he works this to midwicket
42.2
1
Khushdil to Phillips, 1 run
Tad short on off, he flat bats this to long on
42.1
1
Khushdil to Latham, 1 run
Dragged down, but he can't cash in. Down leg, and he only manages to mistime to deep fine leg. Was looking to smack that too hard
New Zealand need 22 runs in 48 balls.
Rehan: "Rizwan's keeping and captaincy wasn't the best in this series. He missed a stumping and missed quite a few balls and looked reluctant to dive. Unless he is carrying an injury, it's not a good sign for Pak"
Language
English
Win Probability
NZ 100%
PAKNZ100%50%100%
Over 46 • NZ 243/5
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