New Zealand left Devon Conway out of their playing XI for the 2025 Champions Trophy match against India at Dubai.
The injured Rachin Ravindra missed New Zealand’s 2025 Champions Trophy opener, against Pakistan. Will Young made 109 at the top of the order that day, while his opening partner Conway got 10.
Tom Latham had two consecutive ducks in the Tri-Nation Series in Pakistan just before Champions Trophy, but recovered from his mini-slump to score 56 in the final. Against Pakistan, he made 118 not out in 104 balls, while Glenn Phillips blasted a 39-ball 61.
New Zealand won that match by 60 runs. Chasing 237 against Bangladesh, they were in a spot of bother at 15-2 and, after losing Conway (30), at 72-3. Coming in for the “unwell” Daryl Mitchell, Ravindra led New Zealand’s response with 112, while Latham got 55.
Two wins saw New Zealand through to the semi-final, but they do have one league game left, against India, who have also qualified after two wins. With Mitchell fit as well, someone had to sit out.
Unlucky Conway
Conway has 185 runs at 46 and a strike rate of 76 in Pakistan this year (three in the Tri-Nation Series, two in the Champions Trophy), behind Phillips (236 at 236 and 124), Kane Williamson (231 at 57.75 and 90), and Latham (229 at 57.25 and 92). Young and Ravindra have recent hundreds, while Phillips and Ravindra can bowl, while Mitchell’s 158 runs have come at 39.50 and 90.
In the end, thus, it came down to Conway (career average 44.71, strike rate 88) versus Mitchell (49.30 and 97). For the day, New Zealand backed the quicker scorer of the two.
