PAK vs NZ
Pakistan chose to bat.
New Zealand have been the best team on view, but Pakistan come into the final on a high after a massive batting performance against South Africa
Pakistan come into the final on a high, but their death bowling remains a concern • Associated Press
Big picture – Pakistan vs New Zealand is the ideal final match-up
It’s rare for a tournament final to be a dry run, but that’s almost what this Pakistan vs New Zealand game will be. There’s a trophy on the line in Karachi, five days before another Pakistan vs New Zealand game in Karachi – that is the big one, the opening game of the Champions Trophy. In that sense, when this tri-series was planned, this was the final that would have made the most sense, if you’d asked anyone bar, perhaps, South Africa.
New Zealand have comfortably been the team of the tournament so far, but Pakistan arguably come in on a bigger high, riding a wave after coming back from the dead to steal the second place on the table after an epic ODI chase against South Africa. The execution of the win was more satisfying than the fact that it happened. Two men in Pakistan’s middle order stringing together Pakistan’s third-highest ODI partnership – Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha put on a whopping 260 for the fourth wicket, masterfully pacing a chase while seemingly not playing a single shot in anger. Most notably, it will allay fears of an over-dependence on Fakhar Zaman up top if the middle order can find a way to stand up for itself more regularly, balancing Pakistan’s batting line-up ahead of the Champions Trophy.
Stats – Pakistan’s first 350-plus chase, Rizwan-Salman’s record partnership
Williamson hails ‘outstanding’ Conway after record partnership
But Pakistan’s death bowling remains a cause for concern. They conceded 98 in the final six overs against New Zealand, and 87 in the final seven on Wednesday against South Africa. On both occasions, one man in a purple patch took the attack to them – the fast bowlers in particular. It was Glenn Phillips one day, Heinrich Klaasen the next. It keeps New Zealand in the game till late, knowing they can catch up against a bowling line up that has revealed it it vulnerable.
New Zealand have just about played two perfect games, with control the key feature of their performances. There is a calm this side exudes when it appears a passage of play is going against them. They didn’t panic when they weren’t quite at the run rate they wanted to be against Pakistan until deep in the innings, keeping their ammunition dry until the opportunity to use it presented itself. When Matthew Breetzke took them on at the death, they retained their composure, aware the target was still below par, and then made short work of it with a near faultless chase.
Most notably, New Zealand have shown how to use spin as a leash for the opposition on these surfaces, and possess more experienced, more varied and, frankly, superior slower bowlers. Mitchell Santner has been in the middle of special run the last few months, and stifled Pakistan alongside Michael Bracewell, Phillips and Rachin Ravindra last week. They bowled 26 of the 47.5 overs through that innings, and while Pakistan’s spinners bowled a similar amount, they weren’t nearly as effective.
It is a game with silverware up for grabs, and the group-stage rubber between the two next week inflates its importance rather than diminishing it.
Form guide
Pakistan WLWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
New Zealand WWLWW
In the spotlight: Fakhar Zaman and Kane Williamson
Fakhar Zaman’s fireworks at the start have been integral to Pakistan’s hopes. When Zaman fell for a 69-ball 84 against New Zealand, Pakistan’s chase fell apart in Lahore, and his 28-ball 41 saw Pakistan fly to 91 in the first ten overs – their third fastest ten-over score in ODI history – against South Africa. It has gone some way towards replacing the hole left at the top by Saim Ayub’s injury, and given impetus to a side whose middle order doesn’t quite have the explosiveness to make up for any dawdling up top. On flat wickets where big totals will have to be put up and chased down, and with Fakhar key to Pakistan’s success in international tournament knockout games, his performance and the game’s outcome may well be very closely aligned.
Kane Williamson followed up a half-century against Pakistan with an unbeaten hundred to vanquish South Africa. New Zealand haven’t played too many ODIs since the 2023 World Cup, but he appears to have picked up where he left off, on surfaces that are perfectly suited to his immense ability. He showed in the first game he could grind it out on a “tackier wicket”, as he put it, while picking the pace up on the flatter surface against South Africa. His legendary unflappability has handled far bigger occasions, with his current form not just a warning sign for Pakistan, but every side he comes up against in the next few days.
Team news: Rachin Ravindra won’t be rushed back
With Haris Rauf unavailable, Pakistan are unlikely to tinker with the side that got them to the final barring injuries.
Pakistan (likely): 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Babar Azam, 3 Saud Shakeel, 4 Mohammad Rizwan (capt, wk), 5 Salman Agha, 6 Tayyab Tahir, 7 Khushdil Shah, 8 Shaheen Afridi, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Mohammad Hasnain, 11 Abrar Ahmed
*New Zealand coach Gary Stead said that Rachin Ravindra had experienced headaches after the blow to his head in the tri-series opening and though that has subsided, they don’t intend to rush him back into action, especially with his replacement Devon Conway filling in with aplomb. Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson, who had sustained a hamstring injury in the ILT20, has resumed training and is building up his intensity, with Stead saying that the team management will “look to have him playing in one of the next two games.”
New Zealand (probable): 1 Devon Conway, 2 Will Young, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Tom Latham/Mark Chapman, 6 Glenn Phillips, 7 Michael Bracewell, 8 Mitchell Santner (capt), 9 Ben Sears/Lockie Ferguson, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Will O’Rourke
Pitch and conditions
Karachi proved just as flat as Lahore on Wednesday, and the outfield was lightning quick, playing its part in the highest-scoring ODI in the previous game. It will be a warm, sunny day, with temperatures hitting up to 30 degrees.
Stats and trivia
Fakhar has scored 57, 114, 91, 55* and 0 in the five semi-final/final games he has played in white-ball international cricket. The first three went towards wins. Pakistan lost the other two.
Williamson became the fifth New Zealand batter to reach 7000 ODI runs on Monday, and is on the cusp of more run-scoring history: he is 148 away from becoming the first New Zealander to 19,000 international runs.
New Zealand have been in 12 finals of multi-team white-ball tournaments since 2000. Of these, they have won four and lost eight. What’s worrying is that the last of those wins came way back in 2005.
*5.10pm: The preview was updated after Gary Stead provided updates on the injuries of Rachin Ravindra and Lockie Ferguson
Danyal Rasool is ESPNcricinfo’s Pakistan correspondent. @Danny61000
Big picture – Pakistan vs New Zealand is the ideal final match-up
Form guide
In the spotlight: Fakhar Zaman and Kane Williamson
Team news: Rachin Ravindra won’t be rushed back
Pitch and conditions
Stats and trivia
Live: Black Caps v Pakistan – ODI Tri-Series final
February 14, 2025 •03:35pm
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The Black Caps face Pakistan in the ODI Tri-Series final in Karachi on Friday night, boosted by the addition of fast bowler Lockie Ferguson to the squad.
Ferguson has jetted in from the UAE T20 competition and is in line to play his first ODI since the 2023 World Cup.
He has had a hamstring niggle but, if selected, would likely replace Ben Sears in the XI.
“Lockie’s had a couple of bowls .. he lifted the intensity more tonight and pleased at how he is tracking. We’ll certainly look to have him playing in one of the next two games,” said Black Caps coach Gary Stead, referring to the final and the Champions Trophy warmup game against Afghanistan on Sunday.
The Black Caps beat Pakistan by 78 runs in the opening match of the series, and will also face them again next Wednesday night, at the same ground in Karachi, in the opening match of the Champions Trophy.
Opening batter Rachin Ravindra has been ruled out of the final after suffering a nasty blow to the head while attempting a catch in the first game against Pakistan, meaning Will Young and Devon Conway, who scored 97 in the win over South Africa on Monday, will again open.
It is hoped Ravindra will be available for the Champions Trophy opener.
“He’s progressing well,” Stead said. “We’re following HIA protocols … he’s had a headache for a few days but that’s subsiding which is really god news.
“He hit a few balls tonight … but there’s still a few more steps for him to go through before he’d be considered fit to play.”
Black Caps (likely): Devon Conway, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson/Ben Sears, Will O’Rourke.
Pakistan (likely): Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed.
The Black Caps are two wins from two in the three-team series, having comfortably disposed of both the hosts and South Africa. And before that, they had a 2-1 ODI series win at home against Sri Lanka.
Pakistan rebounded from their opening loss to New Zealand in Lahore by chasing down 353 – a record for them – to beat South Africa in Karachi on Wednesday, also the same venue for tonight’s series finale.
Pakistan, at home, are understandably slight favourites to win with the NZ TAB paying $1.75. The Black Caps are at $2.02.
Gary Stead (Black Caps coach): “It’s not to hit the ground running and play some really good cricket. I think the guys with bat and ball have been outstanding so far and that will breed some confidence as we go into the Champions Trophy. From our perspective it’s just doing more of what we’ve been doing. Pakistan at home is a formidable team to play against.”
Glenn Phillips (Black Caps allrounder): “Karachi is a slightly different surface on a slightly different ground so our death plans might be mixed up compared to in Lahore.”
Devon Conway (Black Caps): The left-hander looked sharp in scoring 97 against South Africa on Monday after getting a chance because of Ravindra’s head injury. Ravindra is expected to be back for the Champions Trophy and is an automatic selection at the top. More runs for Conway in the final against Pakistan would put some serious heat on Young for the other opening spot.
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Pakistan vs New Zealand Live Streaming Tri Series Live Telecast: When And Where To Watch
Pakistan vs New Zealand Live Streaming Tri Series: With the Champions Trophy looming large, Pakistan host New Zealand and South Africa in a four-match tri-nation series, starting February 8. The hosts play the Kiwis in the opening match of the series at the newly-renovated Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Pakistan have suffered a poor record in all formats of cricket in recent years, but their performance has piqued somewhat recently. They hope to carry forward a winning momentum since Rizwan took the reins in November and they won their first series in Australia in more than two decades by a 2-1 margin. They have also beat Zimbabwe and inflicted the first ever home whitewash on South Africa in December.
New Zealand will take on South Africa in the second match, also in Lahore, on Monday before the hosts play South Africa in Karachi on February 12 with a finale staged two days later.
When will the Pakistan vs New Zealand Tri-Nation Series match be played?
The Pakistan vs New Zealand Tri-Nation Series match will be played on Saturday, February 8.
Where will the Pakistan vs New Zealand Tri-Nation Series match be played?
The Pakistan vs New Zealand Tri-Nation Series match will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan.
What time will the Pakistan vs New Zealand Tri-Nation Series match start?
The Pakistan vs New Zealand Tri-Nation Series match will start at 2:30 PM (2 PM) toss.
Which TV channels will telecast the Pakistan vs New Zealand Tri-Nation Series match?
The Pakistan vs New Zealand Tri-Nation Series match will be telecast on the Sony Sports Network.
Where to follow the live streaming of the Pakistan vs New Zealand Tri-Nation Series match?
The Pakistan vs New Zealand Tri-Nation Series match will be streamed live on FanCode app and website.
(All the details are as per the information provided by the broadcaster)
(With AFP Inputs)
