ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Watch - Matt Henry takes unreal catch to dismiss Saud Shakeel

New Zealand National Cricket Team pacer Matt Henry took an amazing catch to dismiss the Pakistan National Cricket Team batter Saud Shakeel in the first match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Matt Henry silenced the crowd at the National Stadium in Karachi with his brilliant catch that cut short the stay of Saud Shakeel in the middle on Wednesday, February 19.

Also Read: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Revealed - Why Fakhar Zaman didn’t open against New Zealand?

Saud Shakeel dismissed for a low score as Matt Henry took a blinder

The veteran opener Fakhar Zaman was not allowed to open the innings for Pakistan in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

This was because of the time he spent off the field due to the injury that he picked up on the second ball of the first over of the first innings while fielding.

In the absence of Fakhar Zaman, Saud Shakeel was promoted to open the innings with Babar Azam and he disappointed the fans and the team management with his poor showing.

Shakeel never looked comfortable in the middle while facing the Kiwi bowlers and then he was dismissed in the 4th over itself after scoring 6 runs off 19 balls.

On the fourth ball of the 4th over, William O'Rourke bowled a short of a length ball to Saud Shakeel outside off-stump. The Pakistan batter looked to cut it but got a thick edge, and the ball traveled to the third man, where Matt Henry judged the catch perfect. Matt Henry ran to his right, dived, took the low catch, and rolled over to send the Pakistan batter packing.

Watch: Matt Henry takes a blinder to remove Saud Shakeel

pic.twitter.com/LyF69lFK6N

— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) February 19, 2025

What Happened in the Previous ICC Champions Trophy Clash Between Pakistan and New Zealand?

Pakistan and New Zealand have faced off each other three times in the ICC Champions Trophy, in 2000, 2006, and 2009, with the Black Caps winning all three times.

The last time Pakistan and New Zealand clashed in the ICC Champions Trophy was in a semi-final match in 2009 in Johannesburg. New Zealand broke their semi-final jinx in that game with a 5-wicket victory, thanks to a match-winning partnership between Grant Elliott and Daniel Vettori.

Pakistan batted first in the high-octane match and struggled to build momentum despite a gritty 55-run knock from Umar Akmal and a cautious 45-run innings from Mohammad Yousuf. The Men In Green, eventually, were able to register 233/9 on the board as they weren't able to accelerate the innings at any point in time.

For the Kiwis, Ian Butler (4/44) and Vettori (3/43) delivered a terrific bowling performance and ensured that the Men In Green didn't score big.

In the second innings, New Zealand’s chase got off to a tense start. Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill were dismissed early along with Aaron Redmond. Ross Taylor was also back in the hut after scoring 38 runs.

At 126/4, the match hung in the balance, but Elliott (75*), who was dropped by Younis Khan, and Vettori (41) took the Black Caps home with 13 balls to spare and 5 wickets in hand.