If the 2025 Champions Trophy had been expected to be won by the batters, a reminder of why that may be the case was served on the opening day itself.
Put into bat first after Pakistan won the toss, New Zealand’s total reached 320 for 5, after a well-paced first innings, led by centuries from Will Young and Tom Latham, in Karachi on Wednesday.
It was the sixth 300+ score in the last nine ODI innings played on Pakistani soil after the recent tri-series between these two teams and South Africa. Across those four matches, there had been five hundreds and 15 50+ scores.
That trend is not new either. Since 2021, according to ESPNCricinfo, Pakistan has been home to the highest batting average in ODIs (35.53) in the world.
“Although the totals might seem high in the context of cricket it’s probably on par to get 320 these days when batting first and chasing it down in the 44th or 46th over,” South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo, adding that the “conditions are in favour of the batters”. The Proteas leaked 300+ scores in each of their matches in the tri-series, even failing to defend a mammoth total of 355 against Pakistan.
So, if belters are expected to be rolled out during the tournament, how can the bowlers take control of the game? Being economical in the middle overs, according to Maharaj.
“In order to get success, it’s about building pressure and just limiting the boundary balls in between,” he said. “It’s not about changing the way I bowl, it’s just about changing the field sets that we have. I’m still trying to bowl my best ball to create opportunity, but with probably a more defensive type of field, maybe not carrying a slip for so long. That’s basically the sort of mindset.”
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On Wednesday, Pakistan’s three spinners – Abrar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah and Salman Agha – conceded 102 runs across their 20 overs, far more economical than their pacers, who were hammered in the death.
The tweakers may well have kept them in the running and the second innings target, while high, within reach. And that may be the key on the batting-friendly pitches in this tournament.