Tom Latham Leads New Zealand's Chase Against Pakistan
The required run rate is higher than the current run rate, making it a challenging task for New Zealand to win, but Latham and Mitchell's partnership has given them a glimmer of hope, and the match is set for a thrilling finish.
Pakistan has set a target of 242 runs for New Zealand in the tri-nation series final, with Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell currently at the crease, chasing the target with a required run rate of 5.43, and Pakistan needing a breakthrough to shift the momentum back in their favor.
The match is being played at the National Stadium in Karachi, where Pakistan won the toss and batted first, scoring 242 runs, thanks to notable contributions from captain Mohammad Rizwan and vice-captain Salman Ali Agha, who scored 46 and 45 runs respectively. Babar Azam also achieved a milestone, becoming the joint-fastest player to reach 6,000 ODI runs during the game.
New Zealand, on the other hand, lost Will Young early on, but Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell have steadied the innings with a partnership of 48 runs, with Latham scoring 27 off 33 and Mitchell scoring 27 off 41. The current run rate is 4.58, and New Zealand needs 87 runs in 96 balls to win.
The match is evenly poised, with both teams having two reviews remaining. Former Blackcaps coach Mike Hesson discussed the team's strategy and challenges with D'Arcy Waldegrave, including the possibility of Tom Latham continuing as captain for the remainder of the series, but no concrete answer was revealed.
As the match nears its end, scheduled for 21:40 local time, Pakistan and New Zealand are engaged in a thrilling contest, with the outcome hanging in the balance, and Tom Latham's leadership and batting skills being put to the test.
