As is so often the case with ICC tournaments, the narrative arc for this Champions Trophy was focussed on Pakistan, the hosts, playing eternal rivals India, albeit at a neutral venue in Dubai.
Now, the centre piece of the tournament becomes a battle for survival for Pakistan, badly beaten by New Zealand in the opening match. If Bangladesh upset India on Thursday, then Sunday’s marquee match-up effectively becomes a winner-takes-all scrap.
Two contrasting hundreds, a blazing half-century and some immaculate new-ball bowling were central to this emphatic 60-run New Zealand victory. They judged the conditions to a nicety, accelerated like a Formula-1 car down the home straight and then squeezed the life out of Pakistan’s chase with skilful bowling and superb fielding, epitomised by Glenn Phillips’ stunning leap and grab to send Mohammad Rizwan packing.
Pakistan had started the better of the two sides, despite Fakhar Zaman limping off in the first over after trying to stop a four. Naseem Shah bowled an exceptional spell, getting disconcerting bounce, and when Daryl Mitchell popped a nasty short ball from Haris Rauf to mid-on, the Black Caps were in some strife.
Devon Conway had been bamboozled by a beautiful delivery from Abrar Ahmed, while Kane Williamson made just one before tickling one from Naseem behind. But from the depths of 73-3, when Mitchell fell, New Zealand hauled themselves back with a combination of grit, smarts and flair.
While Tom Latham played himself in, Will Young kept up the tempo he had from the start. His innings ensured that the run-rate hovered around five, lessening the pressure on Latham to take risks. Having taken 56 balls for his first 50, with five fours and a six, Young hit a further six fours while easing to a century in another 51 balls.
By the time he was dismissed, brilliantly caught by substitute fielder Faheem Ashraf off Naseem, the partnership was worth 118 from 126 balls. With Phillips also taking a few balls to get his eye in, Latham didn’t panic. New Zealand were 207-4 with the last 10 overs to be bowled, and Latham at one stage had 60 off 73 balls.
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Then came the flooring of the pedal, and Pakistan had few answers. Abrar’s 10 overs for 47 aside, everyone got a hammering as both batters uncorked the big shots. Off the last 31 balls he faced, Latham pummeled 58, while Phillips needed just 34 balls to get to his half-century. They added 125 from just 74 balls, with a whopping 113 coming from the last 10 overs.
Pakistan, with Fakhar unable to open, began their reply with a noticeable lack of intent. Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke bowled superb lengths and kept probing away, but there were an astonishing 47 dot balls in the first 10-over powerplay. By the end of it, Pakistan had limped to 22-2, with Saud Shakeel carving one down to third-man and Rizwan left gobsmacked by Phillips’ Jonty Rhodes tribute.
Not one of the top four batters managed to score at anywhere near the required rate. Babar Azam’s tortuous 50 spanned 81 balls, and his belated attempt to up the ante against Mitchell Santner didn’t clear the inner ring. By then, his compatriots had already succumbed to the scoreboard pressure.
Fakhar, who wasn’t able to move freely because of his injury, swung for the trees one time too many against Michael Bracewell, and it was left to Salman Agha to quicken the pulse a little with a dashing 28-ball 42. But once his pull shot on the move against Nathan Smith failed to clear mid-wicket, the asking rate went beyond 10 and just kept climbing.
Tayyab Tahir made just one, and though Khushdil Shah blazed away for a 49-ball 69 featuring 10 fours and a six, Santner and his men were never flustered. With the required run-rate well over 12, they didn’t need to be.
The serial semi-finalists said goodbye to their talismanic new-ball duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee after the last World Cup, and they started this game without the hugely talented Rachin Ravindra, still recovering from a facial injury. But cometh the hour and the big stage, they remain the most dangerous of dark horses.
Brief scores: New Zealand 320/5 (Young 107, Latham 118*, Phillips 61) beat Pakistan 260 (Babar 64, Khushdil 69, O’Rourke 3-47) by 60 runs.
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