A disappointing start for the defending champions as Pakistan slump to a defeat with some familiar patterns resurfacing. The bowlers are conceding far too many in the slog overs, and the batters are lacking the intent needed to keep up with ODI cricket in 2025. In the words of a famous coach from a different sport, maybe the time for ‘cosmetic changes’ is over, maybe it is time for ‘open heart surgery’ for Pakistan. But we’ll leave the hacky medical comparisons to sports teams for another time. For now, this is Saurabh signing off on behalf of Ramki, Pradeep and Siva!

Mitch Santner: Pleased with the way we went about it. Pakistan bowled well, so in the middle stage when Latham and Young could build a partnership that was great, they scored a few boundaries as well. And then GP came out and smashed it around. We were targetting around 260, but glad we could get more in the death overs. After the score we got, we were brilliant in the first 10 overs, and then we could put the squeeze in, keep that run rate pressure on them and get wickets. (On the Phillips catch) We kind of expect that from him now, and getting Rizwan out was a massive wicket. (On the importance of the previous tri-series) Understanding the conditions and the opposition was crucial. You have to hit a slightly shorter length out here and for spinners, it is about bowling slower. This win shows if we can do the hard yards with the bat, then we can carry on with the ball and put the squeeze on the opposition.

Mohammad Rizwan: They made a good target, we didn't expect that. We were looking at something around 260. We tried our best and used all tactics, but they played well and put up a good target. We see the pitch conditions, earlier the pitch wasn't easy to bat but when Will Young and Latham got together batted it got easier. At the end, we made the same mistake like we did in Lahore and they made a good target. We didn't get a good start with the bat. (On the extent of injury to Fakhar Zaman) Not sure yet, he hasn't got his result yet. He is in some pain. We lost the momentum twice - once while bowling in the death and then while batting in the powerplay. It is disappointing for us, we played it like a normal match. The match is gone now and hopefully we can do better in the rest.

Tom Latham | Player of the Match:

Stats by Roshan Gede

NZ have now won all four games against Pakistan in Champions Trophy
By 4 wickets, Nairobi, 2000 SF
By 51 runs, Mohali, 2006
By 5 wickets, Johannesburg, 2009 SF
By 60 runs, Karachi, today

Most overs of finger-spin for NZ in an ODI
30 vs AUS, Edgbaston, 2013 CT
29 vs SL, Pallekele, 2024
29 vs PAK, Karachi, 2025 CT
28 vs BAN, Nelson, 2016
28 vs AUS, Dharamsala, 2023 CWC

21:48 Local Time, 16:48 GMT, 22:18 IST:

Matt Henry to Naseem Shah, out Bowled!! That's it! Game, set, match! The defending champions start their season with a loss.
Naseem Shah b Matt Henry 13(15) [6s-1]

Matt Henry to Naseem Shah, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Matt Henry to Naseem Shah, no run, good length delivery outside off, Naseem shuffled for a ramp and then adjusted for a reverse sweep. Couldn't connect with either

Matt Henry [7.0-1-25-1] is back into the attack

Abrar Ahmed, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Santner to Haris Rauf, out Caught by Mitchell!! That ends the fun for Haris Rauf. Haris Rauf c Mitchell b Santner 19(10) [6s-3]

Santner to Haris Rauf, THATS OUT!! Caught!!