Champions Trophy: Mitchell Santner Reflects On New Zealand’s Thrilling 60-Run Victory Over Pakistan

February 20, 2025: In the opening match of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, New Zealand’s captain Mitchell Santner expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, highlighting their comeback after a challenging start. The Kiwis, who were initially targeting a score between 260-280 runs, were propelled to an imposing 320/5, thanks to a remarkable partnership between Tom Latham (118*) and Will Young (107), and a fiery cameo from Glenn Phillips (61 off 39 balls).

Santner admitted that after losing key wickets early in their innings, including Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, and Daryl Mitchell, the team was under pressure. “We were thinking 260-280, but it shows what you can do if you have a platform and wickets in hand,” Santner said in the post-match presentation. “After the score we got, the first 10 overs with the ball were outstanding, the way our new-ball guys were able to smash a length.”

Phillips’ explosive 61, which featured four sixes and three boundaries, added much-needed momentum to the innings, taking New Zealand past the target they had set for themselves. Santner praised the way Young and Latham rotated the strike and capitalized on the odd boundary, setting the stage for Phillips to take over in the latter stages of the innings.

New Zealand’s bowling attack was equally impressive, with their seamers consistently hitting the right lengths, while their spinners kept things tight. A standout moment came when Glenn Phillips produced a stunning one-handed catch to dismiss Pakistan’s captain Mohammad Rizwan. Santner recalled the catch, noting, “We kind of expect that from Glenn, and getting Rizwan like that was outstanding.”

Pakistan’s top order was under immense pressure as New Zealand’s bowlers, led by William ORourke, targeted the short length, while the spinners mixed up the pace to slow down the run rate. “Tonight, there wasn’t much dew, maybe because of the wind, but hitting that slightly shorter length – 9-10m – was crucial for the quicks, and bowling a little slower for our spinners, we were able to get it to grip,” Santner explained.

With a commanding 60-run victory, New Zealand secured two valuable points in the group stage.

They now look ahead to their next clash against Bangladesh on February 24 in Rawalpindi. Santner’s men will be hoping to maintain their momentum and build on their strong start in the tournament.