ICC Champions Trophy 2025: "What an outstanding hundred" Fans hail Will Young for solid century in PAK vs NZ clash

Published at :February 19, 2025 at 5:49 PM

Modified at :February 19, 2025 at 5:49 PM

(Courtesy : ICC)

Will Young stitched a century stand with Tom Latham.

New Zealand opener Will Young cracked a solid century against Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener on Wednesday in Karachi.

After a string of low scores in recent games, Young recorded his fourth ODI century in his 41st ODI innings. This knock came at a time when New Zealand had lost three of their senior men cheaply and Young bailed the side out of trouble in support of Tom Latham.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and elected to bowl first. Pakistani bowlers kept things tight from the start of New Zealand’s innings.

After applying pressure at both ends, the Pakistan bowlers struck thrice, removing Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, and Daryl Mitchell with the scorecard reading 73/3.

From there, the Kiwis fought back with solid knocks from Young and Latham. Not only did they stem the flow of wickets, the duo hit boundaries regularly to keep the scoring rate around five runs an over. Their fourth-wicket partnership yielded 118 runs off 126 balls.

Young was finally dismissed by Naseem Shah for 107 runs off 113 balls, his knock including 12 fours and a six. At the other end, Latham reached his half-century as well.

This is also only the fourth instance of a New Zealand batsman hitting a century in ICC Champions Trophy.

New Zealand batsmen to hit hundred in ICC Champions Trophy:

145* – Nathan Astle vs USA, The Oval, 2004

102* – Chris Cairns vs IND, Nairobi, 2000 Final

100 – Kane Williamson vs AUS, Edgbaston, 2017

100* – Will Young vs PAK, Karachi, 2025

Netizens applauded Young’s terrific century that kept New Zealand on path of a competitive total.

Fans hail Will Young for his century in PAK vs NZ clash:

HUNDRED IN CT OPENER BY WILL YOUNG.– What a century by Young Vs Pakistan. He's playing a superb knock for New Zealand, a great start to the Champions Trophy. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/4oSyf9u0pC
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 19, 2025

What a 100 from the dangerously good looking Will Young! pic.twitter.com/t99bjmDnk0
— The ACC (@TheACCnz) February 19, 2025

When I saw Will Young bat in India, I wondered why he had the average he did and why he wasn't a regular. This innings makes you feel that way again.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 19, 2025

The trick to make Will Young click is to let him know that he might just be filling in for someone else
— Somesh Agarwal (@someshagarwal22) February 19, 2025

🚨 WILL YOUNG BECOMES THE FIRST BATTER TO SCORE HUNDRED IN CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2025 🚨 pic.twitter.com/wLiv77jtpT
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 19, 2025

Beautiful Innings Pure Masterclass by Will Young. This innings is brighter than broadcasting 👏 pic.twitter.com/ezThF0WJIE
— Gagan🇮🇳 (@1no_aalsi_) February 19, 2025

Here for the Will Young redemption on tournament opening day.In CWC23 opening day, Conway and Rachin hit tons as NZ chased 283 losing just 1 wicket. Will Young for 0(1).#ChampionsTrophy
— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) February 19, 2025

First centurion of the Champions Trophy, Will Young.He had a quiet Tri Series but now shows what he's made of.This is his first-ever ton against a top team (earlier centuries were against Netherlands & Bangladesh) pic.twitter.com/aUt6wwdrel
— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) February 19, 2025

Will Young is having a time of his life in the last few months. Red hot form.
— ▲ (@CaughtAtGully) February 19, 2025

Will Young knows very well how to bat in the Subcontinent.We have seen it against India in the home Test series 💔 pic.twitter.com/RNcoXWJNIS
— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) February 19, 2025

How good is Will Young without anyone noticing him. He is the darkhorse of a perennially darkhorse side.
— KASHISH (@crickashish217) February 19, 2025

Will Young bats like someone with a short name. Everything about his batting is so precise, compact & succinct, like this classy century today #ChampionsTrophy
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) February 19, 2025

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