New Zealand's Tri-series triumph causes huge shake-up in ICC ODI Rankings

New Zealand, led by Mitchell Santner, secured the tri-series title in Pakistan by defeating the hosts by five wickets in the final in Karachi on Friday, February 14. Following the victory in the summit clash, the Kiwis moved to the No. 4 spot in the latest ICC ODI rankings, while India continued their dominance at the top.

New Zealand successfully chased down 243 in just 45.2 overs at the National Stadium. Daryl Mitchell was the top scorer for the BlackCaps with 57 runs off 58 balls. Tom Latham (56), Devon Conway (48), Kane Williamson (34), and Glenn Phillips (20*) also made valuable contributions to complete the run chase.

Earlier, the bowlers set up the victory. Will O'Rourke was the pick of the bowlers for the visiting team, taking four wickets for 43 runs to limit Pakistan to a modest total. Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell took two wickets each, while Nathan Smith and Jacob Duffy chipped in with one scalp apiece.

New Zealand Climb in ICC ODI Rankings After Tri-Series Win in Pakistan

New Zealand remained unbeaten throughout the recently concluded tri-series. The flawless performance significantly enhanced their standing in the ICC ODI rankings. The team's rating boosted from 100 to 105, securing them the fourth position with an impressive tally of 4,414 points from 42 matches.

Pakistan, on the other hand, dropped to third in the ICC ODI rankings with a rating of 107 after losing two of their three tri-series matches, including the final.

Meanwhile, Australia managed to reclaim second place with a rating of 110 despite a surprising 0-2 series defeat against Sri Lanka. India, led by Rohit Sharma, remained at the top of the table with 119 points. They consolidated their position after a dominant 3-0 series victory over England at home.

Updated ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings

New Zealand Hope to Maintain Their Winning Streak in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

New Zealand will hope to maintain their winning streak in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which is scheduled to begin on February 19. The tournament features two groups: Group A - India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand, while Group B - Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan.

The BlackCaps will kick off their campaign against Pakistan in the tournament opener in Karachi on February 19. They will play their second match against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 24, while their final group-stage clash will be against India on March 2 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

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