Introduction: new zealand national cricket team vs pakistan national cricket team match scorecard
The cricket rivalry between the New Zealand National Cricket Team and the Pakistan National Cricket Team has always offered exciting contests, close finishes, and brilliant individual performances. Both teams bring unique playing styles and proud cricketing histories to the field, making every match between them worth watching.
In this article, we’ll explore the latest match scorecard, go behind the scenes with hibbies (highlights, issues, big moments, blunders, injuries, emotions, and strategies), and provide more detailed insights into the contest between New Zealand and Pakistan.
Table of Contents
Head-to-Head: A Battle of Skill and Grit
The rivalry between New Zealand and Pakistan has been going on for decades. While Pakistan holds a slight edge in overall ODI and Test matches, New Zealand has often given tough competition in ICC tournaments and T20Is. The unpredictable nature of both teams means no one is ever a clear favorite.
Latest Match Summary
Let’s dive into the most recent clash between these two exciting cricketing nations.
Match Details:
- Format: One Day International (ODI)
- Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
- Date: June 15, 2025
- Series: Pakistan tour of New Zealand 2025 – 3rd ODI
- Result: Pakistan won by 5 wickets
New Zealand vs Pakistan: Match Scorecard
New Zealand Innings – 246 all out in 49.3 overs
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devon Conway | 41 | 55 | 6 | 0 | 74.5 |
| Will Young | 28 | 39 | 4 | 1 | 71.8 |
| Kane Williamson | 56 | 67 | 5 | 1 | 83.6 |
| Glenn Phillips | 12 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 70.6 |
| Tom Latham (wk) | 34 | 43 | 2 | 1 | 79.0 |
| Daryl Mitchell | 21 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 87.5 |
| Mitchell Santner | 16 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 80.0 |
| Matt Henry | 8 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 80.0 |
| Adam Milne | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.7 |
| Ish Sodhi | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 120.0 |
| Trent Boult | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Extras: 22 (Wides 10, No Balls 2, Leg Byes 7, Byes 3)
Total: 246 all out (49.3 overs)
Pakistan Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Afridi | 9.3 | 41 | 3 | 4.32 |
| Haris Rauf | 10 | 53 | 2 | 5.30 |
| Naseem Shah | 9 | 39 | 2 | 4.33 |
| Shadab Khan | 10 | 45 | 1 | 4.50 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 7 | 36 | 1 | 5.14 |
| Agha Salman | 4 | 20 | 0 | 5.00 |
Pakistan Innings – 247/5 in 47.1 overs
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fakhar Zaman | 45 | 51 | 7 | 0 | 88.2 |
| Imam-ul-Haq | 31 | 47 | 3 | 1 | 65.9 |
| Babar Azam (C) | 61 | 74 | 5 | 1 | 82.4 |
| Mohammad Rizwan | 54 | 61 | 4 | 1 | 88.5 |
| Iftikhar Ahmed | 30 | 33 | 2 | 1 | 90.9 |
| Shadab Khan | 14* | 11 | 2 | 0 | 127.3 |
Extras: 12 (Wides 6, No Balls 1, Leg Byes 5)
Total: 247/5 (47.1 overs)
Result: Pakistan won by 5 wickets
New Zealand Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Henry | 9 | 52 | 1 | 5.78 |
| Adam Milne | 8.1 | 49 | 1 | 6.00 |
| Mitchell Santner | 10 | 44 | 1 | 4.40 |
| Glenn Phillips | 4 | 22 | 0 | 5.50 |
| Ish Sodhi | 10 | 50 | 1 | 5.00 |
| Daryl Mitchell | 6 | 30 | 0 | 5.00 |
Hibbies: Highlights, Issues, Big Moments & More
Let’s break down the key aspects of this game with a “Hibbies” perspective.
Highlights
- Babar Azam’s Calm Fifty: Once again, Pakistan’s captain led from the front with a controlled and classy knock of 61, showing composure when the top order was under pressure.
- Rizwan’s Match-Winning Stand: His 54 off 61 balls ensured that the chase remained on track. Rizwan’s game awareness and smart shot selection stood out.
- Shaheen’s Fiery Start: Shaheen Afridi dismissed Conway and Williamson with deadly in-swingers, immediately putting New Zealand on the back foot.
- Partnership Building: Both teams built solid middle-order partnerships, but Pakistan’s ability to rotate strike and keep wickets in hand proved crucial.
Issues
- New Zealand’s Death Overs Struggle: The lower middle-order collapsed, with the last five wickets falling for just 32 runs, costing them momentum.
- Overuse of Spinners on a Seam-Friendly Pitch: While Santner and Sodhi did their job, New Zealand perhaps underutilized pace options in the middle overs.
- Dropped Catch of Rizwan (on 22): A costly miss at mid-wicket proved to be a turning point, as he anchored Pakistan’s chase from there.
Big Moments
- Williamson’s Return Fifty: Though it ended in defeat, Kane’s return to form after injury was a highlight for the Kiwis. His 56 was full of elegance.
- Rizwan & Iftikhar Partnership (58 Runs): This fifth-wicket stand snatched the match away from New Zealand, absorbing pressure and taking calculated risks.
- Shaheen’s Yorker to Boult: The tail-ender had no answer to a blistering yorker that wrapped up the Kiwi innings.
Injuries:
- Devon Conway Tweaked His Ankle: Although he returned to bat after treatment, his footwork was visibly restricted during the later part of his innings.
- Naseem Shah Cramp Scare: Midway through his ninth over, Naseem had to get physio attention but managed to complete his spell.
Blunders
- Miscommunication Between Latham and Mitchell: A poor call for a single resulted in a needless run-out, halting New Zealand’s rebuild in the middle overs.
- Fielding Lapses by New Zealand: At least two easy singles were turned into twos by Pakistan due to sluggish fielding in the deep.
Emotions and Strategy
- Aggressive Body Language from Pakistan Bowlers: From Shaheen’s follow-through to Shadab’s celebrations, Pakistan played with intense emotion and fire.
- Pakistan’s Batting Strategy: Calm and calculated — bat deep, rotate the strike, and target loose overs.
- New Zealand’s Bowling Strategy: A mix of spin and medium-pace, but lacked an aggressive approach after the 30th over.
Key Takeaways
Pakistan:
- Excellent execution in both bowling and chasing
- Calm approach from top and middle order
- Shaheen and Babar lead by example
New Zealand:
- Top-order lacked urgency
- Middle-order collapse hurt their total
- Death overs were poorly managed
Series Situation and Next Fixture
With this win, Pakistan clinched the 3-match ODI series 2-1, marking a significant away series win for Babar’s men. The two teams will now move into the T20I leg of the tour, starting on June 20, 2025, in Wellington.
Player of the Match
Mohammad Rizwan
For his composed 54 off 61 balls under pressure during the chase.
Historical Perspective
Looking back over their encounters:
- ODIs Played: 115
- Pakistan Wins: 60
- New Zealand Wins: 52
- No Results/Ties: 3
It’s always close between these two, but Pakistan has enjoyed recent success, especially in bilateral series.
Final Words
The New Zealand vs Pakistan clash never disappoints. With fiery bowling, top-tier batting performances, and intense on-field drama, the latest ODI was a perfect showcase of what international cricket is all about.
While New Zealand will reflect on missed opportunities, Pakistan will cherish this hard-fought victory and take momentum into the T20Is.