New Zealand put on a clinical show to win the Tri-Nation series with an emphatic five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the final on February 14 in their Champions Trophy 2025's dress rehearsal. Chasing a target of 243, the Kiwis were rarely challenged by the Pakistani bowlers. Daryl Mitchell (57) and Tom Latham (56) both scored half-centuries, while Devon Conway (48) and Kane Williamson (34) also made valuable contributions to the chase. For Pakistan, Naseem Shah (2/43) was the most successful bowler, taking two wickets.
New Zealand win Tri-Nation series with 5-wicket win over Pakistan in final
Earlier in the match, New Zealand's bowlers shone, with Will O'Rourke leading the charge with four wickets. Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell also chipped in with two wickets each. Pakistan's batting lineup struggled, with no batsman able to reach a half-century. Mohammad Rizwan (46) and Salman Agha (45) were the highest scorers for the team.
New Zealand enjoyed an unbeaten run throughout the tri-series, recording convincing wins against both Pakistan and South Africa in the group stage. All three participating teams will now turn their attention to the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Notably, it was New Zealand's first win in a multi-nation men's ODI tournament since 2005 when they downed India, in the final of a tri-series held in Harare.
Pakistan's batting performance in the tri-series final was a stark contrast to their strong showing against South Africa in the preceding virtual semi-final. The same batting lineup that had produced a record-breaking 260-run partnership between captain Mohammad Rizwan (46) and Salman Ali Agha (45) against the Proteas faltered under the pressure of the final. Both Rizwan and Agha failed to convert their starts into substantial scores after an early top-order collapse.
Opener Fakhar Zaman (10) struggled on a pitch that proved less conducive to batting than the one used in Wednesday's match. Despite starting with a couple of boundaries, the left-hander was dismissed by pacer Will O'Rourke, who bowled tight lines and eventually frustrated the explosive opener. Babar Azam (29) also failed to capitalize on a promising start, losing his wicket for 29. This innings continued a run of poor form for the makeshift opener, who finished the tri-series with just 62 runs in three matches, raising concerns about his form ahead of the Champions Trophy.