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- Latham and Young's centuries power New Zealand to a dominant victory.
Latham and Young's centuries power New Zealand to a dominant victory.
New Zealand beat Pakistan by 60 runs in the Champions Trophy opener.
Pakistan waited nearly 30 years for a global tournament to return to their home soil, but New Zealand crashed their celebration on the opening day of the Champions Trophy with a 60-run win in Karachi. In a high-stakes, fast-paced tournament where each team gets only three group-stage matches, such a loss could put Pakistan's semi-final hopes in danger. Will Young and Tom Latham led the charge with brilliant centuries, laying the foundation for New Zealand’s dominance—though a bit of luck was also on their side.
Just two balls into the game, Fakhar Zaman injured himself while chasing a cover drive from Will Young, forcing him off the field for most of the first inning. That meant he couldn’t open the batting in Pakistan’s chase of 321—exactly when his big-hitting skills were needed most. By the time he walked in at No. 4, Pakistan were struggling at 22 for 2 in ten overs, and his movement between the wickets was clearly affected.
New Zealand’s offspring, Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips, kept the ball away from his reach, making his task even tougher. His painful stay finally ended when Bracewell bowled him with a straight one for 24 off 41 balls.Leading New Zealand for the first time in a global tournament, Mitchell Santner made an impact with three wickets, even though he took some punishment towards the end. This was the third time in just two weeks that New Zealand had dismantled Pakistan with clinical precision, further cementing their reputation as serious title contenders.
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International games
Pakistan vs New Zealand(Champions Trophy)
NZ 320/5 (50)
PAK 260 (47.2)
New Zealand won by 60 runs
Wednesday History
Origins of Cricket (16th - 17th Century)
Cricket traces its roots back to 16th-century England, with the earliest mention of the game dating back to 1598 in Guildford, Surrey, where it was played by children. Historians believe it evolved from simple stick-and-ball games enjoyed in the English countryside.
By the early 1600s, cricket had captured the interest of adults, leading to informal village matches. As its popularity grew, the game found its way into schools and towns. By the late 17th century, cricket had taken on a more competitive edge, with organized matches being played for money—marking its shift from a casual pastime to a serious sport.
Historians believe that cricket evolved from simple stick-and-ball games, where a batsman would try to defend a target (such as a tree stump or a gate) from being hit by a ball.
The game was likely played in meadows and open fields, using rudimentary equipment like curved sticks and wooden balls made from wool or rags. By the late 1600s, cricket had transformed into a more structured and competitive sport. Wealthy landowners and aristocrats began sponsoring village teams, leading to the organization of high-stakes matches, often involving betting.
"Cricket is a game of passion, dedication, and sacrifice."
Domestic cricket + T20 leagues
UP Warriorz Women vs Delhi Capitals Women
UPW 166/7 (20)
DCW 167/3 (19.5)
Delhi Capitals Women won by 7 wkts
Vidarbha vs Mumbai, Semi Final 2
MUM 270
VID 383 & 147/4 (53)
Day 3: Stumps: Vidarbha leads by 260 runs
Gujarat vs Kerala, Semi Final 1
KER 457
GUJ 222/1 (71)
Day 3: Stumps - Gujarat trail by 235 runs
Sutherland and Kapp hold nerve to keep sloppy Warriors winless.
For the first time in this WPL, the Delhi Capitals' middle order delivered, making full use of the explosive start from Shafali Verma and Meg Lanning.
Their efforts secured a convincing seven-wicket win over UP Warriorz, handing them their second straight defeat. The Vadodara leg of the tournament wrapped up with all six matches won by the chasing team, as the action now shifts to Bengaluru, followed by Lucknow and Mumbai. It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Capitals, though.
After Meg Lanning’s well-made 69, they still needed a tricky 48 off 32 on a pitch that was keeping low. But Marizanne Kapp, as reliable as ever, swung the momentum their way with back-to-back boundaries off Sophie Ecclestone when the equation stood at 31 off 17. Annabel Sutherland then all but sealed the chase in the final over—where they needed 11—by taking on Grace Harris in similar fashion. This also marked the highest total the Capitals have ever chased in the WPL.
On This Day
1980
Ian Botham delivered a masterclass in the Golden Jubilee Test against India in Bombay, becoming the first player to score a century and take ten wickets in a single Test. His stunning all-round display included bowling figures of 6 for 58 and 7 for 48, while his commanding 114—scored when no other batter reached 50—proved decisive. He shared a crucial 171-run stand for the sixth wicket with Bob Taylor, who set a new Test record with ten catches in the match (later surpassed by Jack Russell in 1995-96). Statistically, this was Botham at his peak—after 25 Tests, he had amassed 1336 runs at an average of 40 and claimed 139 wickets at just 18 apiece.
Coming tomorrow
ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY, 2025
India vs Bangladesh