WATCH: Substitute Faheem Ashraf takes brilliant sliding catch to dismiss Will Young in Champions Trophy 2025 opener

Pakistan and New Zealand are clashing against each other in the first match of the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025 at the National Stadium in Karachi. The Men in Green won the toss and elected to bowl first with their star pacer Haris Rauf making his comeback in the squad.

Meanwhile, during the first innings of the match, New Zealand opener, Will Young, departed after playing a great knock of 107 runs. It was a length ball onto the stumps which didn’t get enough bounce. Young stayed still and looked to pull it away but the ball flew in the air off the bottom end. 

It went high in the air and the substitute fielder, Faheem Ashraf, from deep square took a brilliant catch. It was an end of a fine knock by the man who had generally been only New Zealand's reserve opener in the presence of Rachin Ravindra.

Watch the video here:

Will young departs after scoring 100.
Naseem takes 2nd wicket of this game#PAKvNZ#ChampionsTrophy2025pic.twitter.com/E8pEbliQcm

— KINSHU KUMAR (@KumarKinshu45) February 19, 2025

Brilliant batting display by New Zealand batters

Before going back to the pavilion, Young stitched a magnificent partnership of 120 runs with Tom Latham. The partnership came after the Kiwis lost their three wickets on 73 runs. After Young’s dismissal, Latham steadied the ship and is heading towards a century. At the time of writing, Latham has already scored 71 runs with 8 overs still to be bowled.

If New Zealand don’t lose their remaining wickets in regular intervals, then it won’t be wrong to say that they can achieve the 300-run target easily. Batters like Philips, Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell can switch the gears anytime and make the 300-run target achievable. Pakistani bowlers looked good in the initial overs of the match but they had no answers to Young and Latham’s batting display.