Pakistan vs New Zealand Highlights, Tri-Series Final: Mitchell, Latham fifties power NZ to dominant tri-series win

Pakistan vs New Zealand LIVE SCORE, Tri-Series Final: PAK vs NZ Live Updates

Pakistan vs New Zealand Highlights, Tri-Series Final: Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell set the tone with fluent fifties as New Zealand stormed to a clinical five-wicket win in the final, further strengthening their Champions Trophy preparations. The Kiwis looked in complete control, with their batting firing and their bowlers maintaining relentless pressure. Their pace attack remains lethal, the spinners have been effective, and the batting unit appears well-settled, making them a serious force heading into the marquee tournament. The side chased down the 243-run target in 45.2 overs.

Salman Ali Agha gave Pakistan an opening by dismissing a ominous looking Kane Williamson to end his partnership with Devon Conway on 71 runs. Pakistan got an early wicket through Naseem Shah but Williamson and Conway then saw off a hostile spell for fast bowling from him and Shaheen Afridi before taking control. Pakistan were defending only a target of 242 and so the partnership between Williamson and Conway put a big dent on their chances of winning the final. Mitchell Santner recorded figures of 2/20 in his 10 overs and led the way in stifling Pakistan for runs. Will O'Rourke, meanwhile, took two wickets in the last over to complete his four-wicket haul and Pakistan were thus all out for just 242 runs.

Tayyab Tahir tried giving Pakistan a much-needed surge late in the innings after Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha both fell just as the innings was heading into the last 10 overs. However, he was dismissed by Jacob Duffy in the 42nd over. Rizwan and Salman steadied the ship once again for Pakistan after they lost a flurry of early wickets, but unlike in the previous match, they were never able to take charge of the proceedings.

Babar Azam was looking good in the early exchanges but spooned the ball back to Nathan Smith in the 12th over completely against the run of play. Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan is out in the middle in just the ninth over of the match with Michael Bracewell dismissing Saud Shakeel in his very first over of the match. At the other end though, Babar was looking quite good and he became the joint-fastest to 6000 ODI runs.

Rizwan earlier won the toss and chose to bat first against New Zealand in the Tri-Series Final in Karachi. New Zealand have been flawless going into this Tri-Series final but Pakistan come into it on the back of a ridiculous high. Captain Mohammad Rizwan and vice-captain Salman Ali Agha put up a ridiculous fourth wicket stand of 260 runs off just 229 balls to help Pakistan chase a target of 353 down with one full over to spare.

Pakistan had never successfully chased down a target as high as that, and yet, they did so with six wickets in hand. South Africa had scored 352/4 and seemed set for a big win when they picked a couple of quick wickets after Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman's fiery opening stand. Rizwan and Agha first weathered the storm and then sent the South Africans to all parts of the stadium. Agha fell on 134 off 103 with Pakistan having all but won the match and the stand ended on 260 off 229 balls. Rizwan finished unbeaten on 122 off 128 balls.

New Zealand's big stars have all performed at some stage or the other in the two games they have played thus far. Importantly for them, former captain Kane Williamson has looked in good touch, scoring a half-century in the first match against Pakistan and then a masterful 133 not out in the second against South Africa. Williamson had not played any ODIs since New Zealand's last 2023 World Cup match against India but there seemed to be no rust at all for the batting great to deal with.

Apart from Williamson, the likes of captain Mitchell Santner, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips and Matt Henry have all got some important runs and wickets in their kitties. England and Ausralia are the other non-Asian countries participating in the Champions Trophy and playing an ODI series in a subcontinental nation before. While those two, especially England, have struggled to adapt, New Zealand seem to have taken to the conditions in Lahore like duck to water. It will be interesting to see if they do the same in Karachi.

For the PCB, this is a dress rehearsal for the tournament opener which will also be played between these two sides at this very stadium. The country is suffering instability on a number of fronts and the government is looking at the succesfull hosting of the Champions Trophy to help steady the boat somewhat. "The return of global cricket is not just about hosting matches," said cricket board chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who doubles as Pakistan's interior minister and security chief. "It is about restoring pride, igniting national passion and giving back to the millions who have stood by Pakistan cricket."

The Champions Trophy will be the first major tournament to be held in Pakistan since 1996 and will feature the home side and teams from New Zealand, England, Australia, Afghanistan, South Africa, Bangladesh and India. All have agreed to play in Pakistan except India, which will play its matches in Dubai, including its encounter with Pakistan, the latest in a storied rivalry.

According to Reuters, police in Lahore, Karachi and the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have deployed over 20,000 troops, including snipers on rooftops along key routes. Hotels where players will stay, stadiums and airports will be heavily guarded as will the roads connecting these locations. The match today acts as the final chance for a ironing out any flaws in the whole setup before the start of the main event.

Here are some pointers to Pakistan vs New Zealand, Tri-Series Final:

- Williamson fell on 34 off 49 balls, his partnership with Conway ending on 71 off 96 balls

- Williamson and Conway's stand crossed 50 in 73 balls

- Pakistan 242 all out in 49.3 overs

- Will O'Rourke finished with figures of 4/43

- Mitchell Santner returned figures of 2/20

- The partnership between Rizwan and Agha ended on 34 off 30 balls

- Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha's stand crossed 50 in 75 balls

- Pakistan lost three wickets in the first 15 overs

- Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and chose to bat

- Pakistan pulled off their highest succesfull run chase against South Africa to reach the final

- New Zealand recorded two dominant wins in Lahore