The stage was set for an exciting match as Pakistan and New Zealand faced off in the first game of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, hosted in Karachi. New Zealand opener Will Young stole the show with his incredible batting performance. Alongside Dewan Conway, Young made a strong debut, but their partnership was short-lived as Conway was dismissed for just 10 runs in the 8th over. Kane Williamson followed soon after, falling victim to Nasim Shah for a mere one run. Derryl Mitchell also struggled, returning to the pavilion after scoring only 10 runs.
Despite these setbacks, Will Young held his ground, putting on a remarkable display of batting prowess. He teamed up with wicketkeeper batsman Tom Latham to score a brilliant century, marking his fourth ODI century. Young achieved this milestone in 107 balls, with an impressive 11 fours and 1 six. This feat makes him the fifth Kiwi batsman to score a century in the Champions Trophy. Previously, Nathan Astle, Chris Cairns, and Kane Williamson had accomplished this impressive feat.
New Zealand batsmen who scored a century in the Champions Trophy
- 145* – Nathan Astle vs. Australia, The Oval, 2004
- 102* – Chris Cairns vs. India, Nairobi, 2000 Finals
- 100 – Kane Williamson vs. Australia, Edgbaston, 2017
- 100* – Will Young vs. Pakistan, Karachi, 2025
As Will Young reached 103 runs, he created history by scoring the highest individual score in Karachi. This achievement makes him the highest-scoring Kiwi batsman in ODIs at the National Stadium in Karachi, surpassing Dewan Conway’s 2-year-old record of 101 runs off 92 balls. Young’s century included 12 fours and 1 six. Notably, he is the 9th batsman worldwide to achieve the feat of scoring a century in his first Champions Trophy match, joining the ranks of Alastair Campbell, Sachin Tendulkar, Saeed Anwar, Asela Gunaratne, Mohammad Kaif, Upul Tharanga, Shikhar Dhawan, and Tamim Iqbal.
The Twitter post from @BLACKCAPS celebrated this achievement, highlighting Will Young’s exceptional performance in the match. His charisma on the field has undoubtedly made a lasting impression, and his name will be remembered alongside other cricket legends. With this remarkable start to the Champions Trophy, fans can expect more thrilling matches and exceptional performances from the participating teams.