Phillips Powers New Zealand to 78-Run Victory Over Pakistan in Tri-Nation Series Opener
New Zealand started their campaign in the 2025 ODI Tri-Nation Series with a resounding victory over hosts Pakistan, defeating them by 78 runs in the opening match at the newly renovated Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 8, 2025. The star of the show was Glenn Phillips, whose explosive century helped propel the Black Caps to a daunting total, which proved too much for the hosts to chase.
Match Summary
Result: New Zealand won by 78 runs
Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
New Zealand: 330 all out
Pakistan: 252 all out
New Zealand Innings
New Zealand, winning the toss, opted to bat first on what seemed like a flat track with good batting conditions. Despite a few early hiccups, the Black Caps posted an impressive total thanks to contributions across the board, especially from Glenn Phillips.
Glenn Phillips: The Kiwi all-rounder played a brilliant knock, smashing 106 off just 72 balls. His innings was studded with 6 fours and 7 sixes, and he brought up his century in the final over of the innings. Phillips’ late flurry of runs helped New Zealand score 26 runs off the last over, pushing the total to a formidable 330 all out.
Daryl Mitchell: The ever-reliable Mitchell played a steady innings of 81 runs off 84 balls. His calm presence in the middle order ensured New Zealand didn’t lose their way after the early departure of Will Young.
Kane Williamson: New Zealand’s captain contributed with 58 runs, anchoring the innings alongside Mitchell in the middle phase.
Michael Bracewell: Coming in at number seven, Bracewell added a quickfire 31 off just 23 balls, ensuring that New Zealand finished their innings with a flurry.
Despite a shaky start from Will Young who was dismissed early, the middle order stepped up and provided the backbone for New Zealand’s innings. With Phillips in full flow, Pakistan’s bowlers had no answers to his power-hitting, and New Zealand set a challenging total.
Pakistan Bowling
The Pakistan bowling attack struggled to contain New Zealand’s batters, with their pacers and spinners unable to break through consistently.
Shaheen Shah Afridi: The left-arm pacer was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan, claiming 3 wickets for 88 runs off his 10 overs. However, the runs he conceded in the process were too many, and it was clear that New Zealand’s batters were in control.
Abrar Ahmed: The leg-spinner made a mark, taking 2 wickets for 41 runs off his 10 overs. Though he was economical, the damage had already been done by the time he got into the attack.
Haris Rauf: Rauf, one of Pakistan’s key pacers, managed just 1 wicket for 23 runs off 6.2 overs. However, he had to leave the field early due to an injury, which further hindered Pakistan’s bowling efforts.
Pakistan Innings
Chasing a daunting target of 331, Pakistan’s innings got off to a promising start with openers Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam putting on a 50-run partnership. However, regular wickets fell throughout the chase, and the required run rate climbed steadily.
Fakhar Zaman: Zaman was the lone warrior for Pakistan, top-scoring with a valiant 84 runs off 69 balls. His innings included 7 boundaries and 4 sixes, and at one point, he looked like he might pull off a remarkable chase. But once he fell, the rest of the batting order struggled to cope with New Zealand’s quality bowling attack.
Babar Azam: Pakistan’s captain, who has been in tremendous form, fell cheaply for just 10 runs, caught behind by Tom Latham off Michael Bracewell.
Salman Ali Agha, Tayyab Tahir, and Abrar Ahmed contributed with brief cameos, but none of them could take the game deep enough to challenge New Zealand’s total.
New Zealand Bowling
With Mitchell Santner and Matt Henry leading the charge, New Zealand’s bowlers were in full control.
Mitchell Santner: The left-arm spinner was the standout performer with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 41 runs off his 10 overs. His controlled spin and variation kept the Pakistani batsmen guessing, and his efforts helped put Pakistan on the back foot early in the chase.
Matt Henry: The fast bowler also picked up 3 wickets for 53 runs, consistently troubling Pakistan’s middle order with his bounce and swing.
Michael Bracewell: The all-rounder also contributed with the ball, taking 2 wickets for 41 runs, including the crucial dismissal of Fakhar Zaman.
Key Moments
Phillips’ Century: The moment that truly shifted the game in New Zealand’s favor came when Glenn Phillips brought up his first-ever ODI century in the final over of New Zealand’s innings. His acceleration towards the end was a game-changer, allowing the Black Caps to finish with a commanding total.
Phillips’ Catch: Another key moment was Phillips’ diving catch to dismiss Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam. The catch was a reflection of New Zealand’s intensity on the field and played a crucial role in keeping Pakistan’s chase in check.
Post-Match Reaction
Following the match, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, acknowledging the significance of this tri-series as a preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He also praised Phillips for his brilliant batting display and highlighted the importance of the middle order’s contributions.
On the other hand, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan remained upbeat despite the defeat, viewing the match as an opportunity to fine-tune his team’s strategies ahead of the Champions Trophy. He emphasized the importance of learning from their mistakes and hoped that Pakistan could bounce back in their next matches.
Teams
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Tayyab Tahir, Salman Agha, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (captain), Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Matt Henry, Ben Sears, Will O’Rourke
Conclusion
New Zealand’s 78-run victory over Pakistan in the opening match of the Tri-Nation Series sets a strong foundation for their preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. Glenn Phillips’ explosive century was the highlight, but the team’s all-around performance with both bat and ball showed that they are well-prepared for the challenges ahead. For Pakistan, the loss serves as a wake-up call, and they will look to regroup and come back stronger in their next match.
The Tri-Nation Series continues to provide both teams with the perfect opportunity to fine-tune their strategies before the global event, and it is sure to produce more exciting encounters as the series progresses.Stay tuned for more updates and live action as the competition unfolds.
FAQs: New Zealand Beat Pakistan by 78 Runs in Tri-Nation Series Opener
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Who won the match between New Zealand and Pakistan in the Tri-Nation Series opener?
Answer:
New Zealand won the match by 78 runs against Pakistan in the opening match of the Tri-Nation Series at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on February 8, 2025.
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What was the final score of the New Zealand vs. Pakistan match?
Answer:
New Zealand: 330/6 in 50 overs
Pakistan: 252 all out in 47.5 overs
New Zealand won by 78 runs.
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Who was the top scorer for New Zealand?
Answer:
Glenn Phillips was the top scorer for New Zealand, playing a brilliant innings of 106 not out off 72 balls, including 6 fours and 7 sixes.
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What was the contribution of Daryl Mitchell in New Zealand’s total?
Answer:
Daryl Mitchell contributed a solid 81 runs off 84 balls to help New Zealand set a strong total of 330/6.
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How did Pakistan perform with the bat?
Answer:
Fakhar Zaman was the highest run-scorer for Pakistan, scoring 84 runs off 69 balls. Other notable contributions came from Salman Agha (40), Tayyab Tahir (30), and Abrar Ahmed (23). Despite these efforts, Pakistan fell short by 78 runs, being bowled out for 252.
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How did New Zealand bowl in this match?
Answer:
New Zealand’s bowlers were excellent throughout Pakistan’s innings. Matt Henry (3 wickets for 53 runs), Mitchell Santner (3 wickets for 41 runs), and Michael Bracewell (2 wickets for 41 runs) led the charge to restrict Pakistan to 252 all out.
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Who were the key bowlers for Pakistan?
Answer:
Shaheen Shah Afridi was the most successful bowler for Pakistan, claiming 3 wickets for 88 runs. Abrar Ahmed took 2 wickets, while Haris Rauf took 1 wicket before leaving the field due to injury.
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Were there any key moments in the match?
Answer:
Yes, there were a couple of crucial moments:
Glenn Phillips’ aggressive batting completely shifted the momentum in New Zealand’s favor, especially with his century in the final over.
Phillips also took an important catch to dismiss Babar Azam early in Pakistan’s innings, which was a key moment in the game.
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Did New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner comment on the win?
Answer:
Yes, after the match, Mitchell Santner, the captain of New Zealand, expressed his satisfaction with his team’s performance. He highlighted the importance of the Tri-Nation Series as a warm-up and preparation for the upcoming Champions Trophy.
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What is the significance of this Tri-Nation Series?
Answer:
This Tri-Nation Series is an important preparation for the Champions Trophy, which is scheduled to begin on February 19, 2025, in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. The series features New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa and serves as a warm-up for the tournament.
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Was there any injury concern for New Zealand players?
Answer:
Yes, Lockie Ferguson, the experienced New Zealand fast bowler, missed the match due to a hamstring injury. However, the team managed to perform well despite his absence.
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How did Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan view the match?
Answer:
Pakistan’s captain, Mohammad Rizwan, acknowledged the match as an important opportunity for his team to prepare for the Champions Trophy. He also emphasized the significance of playing at the Gaddafi Stadium, which could host a potential semi-final during the tournament.
New zealand beat pakistan by 78 runs today?
Answer:
New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 78 runs today in the Tri-Nation Series opener at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. New Zealand set a target of 331, with Glenn Phillips scoring 106*, and Pakistan was bowled out for 252 in response.
PAK vs NZ vs SA tri series schedule?
Answer:
The PAK vs NZ vs SA Tri-Nation Series schedule is as follows:
February 8, 2025 – Pakistan vs New Zealand – 2:30 PM IST at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
February 10, 2025 – New Zealand vs South Africa – 10:00 AM IST at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
February 12, 2025 – Pakistan vs South Africa – 2:30 PM IST at National Stadium, Karachi
February 14, 2025 – Final – 2:30 PM IST at National Stadium, Karachi
Pak vs nz tri series time?
Answer:
February 8, 2025 – Pakistan vs New Zealand – 2:30 PM IST at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Muhammad Anas
