New Zealand opener Will Young played a stellar knock in the Champions Trophy 2025 clash against Pakistan, crafting a brilliant century at the National Stadium in Karachi. The 32-year-old displayed immense composure and class, registering his fourth ODI century and his first in this prestigious ICC tournament. His knock proved to be the backbone of New Zealand’s innings, anchoring them through crucial phases despite early setbacks.
However, Young’s valiant innings came to an end in the 38th over, undone by a combination of sharp bowling from Naseem Shah and a moment of brilliance in the field by Faheem Ashraf. Attempting to accelerate the scoring, Young went for an aggressive slog across the line against a length delivery from Naseem.
However, his lack of proper footwork resulted in a mistimed shot that ballooned off the inside edge of his bat. The ball travelled high towards deep square leg, where Faheem Ashraf sprinted in, timed his slide to perfection, and completed a stunning low catch.
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Young’s dismissal was met with rapturous celebrations from the Pakistan players, acknowledging the crucial breakthrough. Meanwhile, the Karachi crowd, appreciating his efforts, gave the New Zealand opener a well-deserved standing ovation for his outstanding knock.
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Earlier in the match, Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and opted to bowl first, looking to capitalize on favourable conditions. The bowlers backed up the decision by making early inroads, applying pressure on the Kiwi batting lineup. Abrar Ahmed set the tone with the first breakthrough, removing Devon Conway early. Naseem Shah followed up by dismissing New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson cheaply, putting the Black Caps under pressure. Daryl Mitchell also fell for just 10 runs, leaving New Zealand struggling.
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Despite the early blows, Young’s century helped New Zealand rebuild and gain control. At the time of writing, the Kiwis had reached a formidable total of 320/5 in 50 overs, with Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips ensuring a strong finish. Pakistan now faces a challenging chase as they look to begin their campaign with a victory.
