Centuries from Tom Latham and Will Young set New Zealand on their way to a convincing 60-run win over hosts Pakistan in the opening game of the Champions Trophy.
The Black Caps were put in to bat in Karachi and, despite losing three early wickets, kept their composure in a superbly-paced innings to post 320-5.
Opener Young, only playing because of an injury to Rachin Ravindra, set the tone on his way to a 107-ball century, and put on 118 with Latham for the fourth wicket.
Test skipper Latham pushed on to complete his own hundred from 95 balls and after sharing a stand of 125 with Glenn Phillips (61 off 39 balls), eventually finished unbeaten on 118 from 104 balls.
Pakistan’s chase only really kicked into gear once the game was lost.
After a painfully slow start, Phillips’ stunning one-handed catch at backward point to dismiss Muhammad Rizwan left them 22-2 at the end of the powerplay.
The required rate was just shy of 10 an over by the time Salman Ali Agha came in and showed some intent, but his 42 from 28 balls only kept it at that mark – and once he was dismissed it soon began to rise again.
Babar Azam, who had been kept quiet early in his innings, briefly tried to pick up where Agha left off but fell to Mitchell Santner for 64 before Khushdil Shah gave the locals a glimmer of hope with a counter-attacking 69 from 49.
He holed out off Will O’Rourke, who claimed 3-47, and the defending champions were bowled out for 260 in the 48th over. (BBC)
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