Lahore, Pakistan Feb 15 (V7N) - New Zealand delivered a commanding performance in the tri-nation series final on Friday, defeating Pakistan by five wickets just five days before the two teams are set to face off again in the opening match of the Champions Trophy. The Black Caps' comprehensive victory, fueled by disciplined bowling and solid batting, sends a strong message to their rivals ahead of the global tournament.

Pakistan, batting first, was dismissed for 242 runs in 49.5 overs, with none of their batters managing to score a half-century. New Zealand chased down the target comfortably, reaching 243-5 in the 46th over, thanks to crucial contributions from Daryl Mitchell (57) and Tom Latham (56). The winning runs came off Pakistan’s 16th wide delivery, capping off New Zealand’s third consecutive win in the tournament.

Fast bowler Will O’Rourke was the standout performer with the ball, claiming 4-43 and staking a strong claim for a spot in New Zealand’s lineup for the Champions Trophy opener. Captain Mitchell Santner also played a pivotal role, delivering his most economical ODI figures of 2-20, which stifled Pakistan’s middle-order momentum.

“Different guys stepping up at different times is good, but it means nothing until we play that first game at the Champions Trophy,” Santner said after the match.

Tom Latham, who had struggled for runs in the earlier games, made the most of his opportunities after being dropped twice and surviving a close lbw call. He scored a crucial 56 off 64 balls, forming an 87-run partnership with Daryl Mitchell that effectively sealed the game for New Zealand.

“He (Latham) is pretty relieved as well,” Santner said. “We know how good he is, and it was just a matter of time. It was nice for different guys to fire.”

Opener Devon Conway laid a solid foundation with a 48-run knock, sharing a 71-run partnership with Kane Williamson (34). Although Williamson fell short of his third consecutive half-century, Conway’s innings ensured New Zealand stayed on track during the chase.

Pakistan’s batting lineup failed to capitalize on a decent start, with key players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan unable to convert their starts into big scores. Babar, who became the joint-fastest batter to reach 6,000 ODI runs (alongside Hashim Amla), was dismissed for 29 after offering a tame return catch to Nathan Smith.

Rizwan (46) and Salman Ali Agha (45) tried to rebuild the innings with an 88-run partnership, but their scoring rate was hampered by New Zealand’s tight bowling. O’Rourke’s return spell saw him clean bowl Rizwan, while Santner’s double-wicket over in the death overs further dented Pakistan’s hopes of posting a competitive total.

“We wanted to bat first because we thought the pitch would be tougher in the second half,” Rizwan said. “Credit goes to their bowlers. They didn’t give us loose balls.”

Both teams will return to the same ground on Wednesday for the Champions Trophy opener, and New Zealand’s dominant performance in the final will undoubtedly give them a psychological edge. However, Santner cautioned against complacency, emphasizing the need to start fresh in the global tournament.

“The pitch was a bit slower than we expected,” Santner said. “We just wanted to build pressure and take wickets upfront. If we do that, it makes the job easier in the middle.”

New Zealand’s Depth: Contributions from multiple players, including O’Rourke, Santner, Latham, and Mitchell, highlight the team’s balanced strength.

Pakistan’s Concerns: The inability of their top-order batters to convert starts into big scores remains a concern ahead of the Champions Trophy.

Pitch Dynamics: The slow, tacky pitch in Lahore could play a significant role in the upcoming matches, with teams needing to adapt quickly.

As the countdown to the Champions Trophy begins, New Zealand’s clinical performance in the tri-nation final has set the stage for an exciting showdown.

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