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New Zealand Storm into Champions Trophy Semifinals; India Also Secure Qualification
Rachin Ravindra’s Century Leads New Zealand to Victory Over Bangladesh
New Zealand sealed their place in the Champions Trophy semifinals with a clinical five-wicket win over Bangladesh. The victory also confirmed India’s qualification from Group A, while defending champions Pakistan and Bangladesh were eliminated from the tournament.
The star of the match was Rachin Ravindra, who made the most of his Champions Trophy debut, scoring a sensational 112 off 105 balls. His century played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s comfortable chase of Bangladesh’s 236-run total. Despite a solid start from Bangladesh, Michael Bracewell’s outstanding 4/26 restricted them to a below-par score.
Bangladesh’s Early Momentum Cut Short by New Zealand’s Discipline
Strong Opening Stand but Struggles in Middle Overs
Opting to bat first, Bangladesh’s openers started with purpose, putting up a brisk 45-run stand. The Rawalpindi pitch has a history of producing high-scoring games, and Bangladesh initially looked set for a competitive total. However, New Zealand’s disciplined bowling attack, led by Michael Bracewell, slowed their momentum.
Bracewell made the first breakthrough by dismissing Tanzid Hasan, who miscued a shot to midwicket. This opened the floodgates as Bangladesh struggled to maintain a steady run rate. The middle-order collapse followed, with key batters failing to capitalize on their starts.
Najmul Hossain Shanto’s Lone Resistance
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was the only batter who fought back effectively, scoring a valiant 77. While others fell attempting aggressive shots, Shanto’s knock held the innings together. However, he eventually succumbed to a short delivery from Will O’Rourke.
Jaker Ali and Rishad Hossain provided some late resistance, ensuring Bangladesh crossed the 200-run mark. Their aggressive strokeplay in the last ten overs added crucial runs, but a final total of 236/9 in 50 overs seemed insufficient against New Zealand’s deep batting lineup.
Rachin Ravindra’s Heroics Propel New Zealand into the Semifinals
Early Setback for New Zealand as Bangladesh Strikes
Bangladesh struck early with Taskin Ahmed dismissing Will Young for a duck with an incoming delivery. Kane Williamson also departed cheaply after edging a Nahid Rana delivery behind the stumps. At 15/2, Bangladesh sensed an opportunity to stage an upset.
Ravindra and Conway Stabilize the Chase
Ravindra, however, had other plans. He joined forces with Devon Conway, adding 57 runs for the third wicket. Conway played fluently, hitting three crisp boundaries off Rana in a single over, before falling to Mustafizur Rahman.
Match-Defining Partnership Between Ravindra and Latham
Following Conway’s dismissal, Tom Latham joined Ravindra in the middle. The duo put together a decisive 129-run partnership that all but sealed the match for New Zealand. Latham played cautiously, scoring a steady 55, while Ravindra took the attack to the Bangladesh bowlers.
Ravindra brought up his century with an exquisite straight drive, surpassing Kane Williamson to become New Zealand’s highest centurion in ICC ODI tournaments. His innings included confident strokeplay, quick running between the wickets, and timely acceleration.
Even though both Ravindra and Latham fell after New Zealand crossed 200, the game was already beyond Bangladesh’s reach. The Kiwis eventually completed the chase in 46.1 overs, winning by five wickets and securing their spot in yet another ICC tournament semifinal.
Michael Bracewell’s Four-Wicket Haul Sets Up New Zealand’s Win
Bracewell was the standout performer with the ball, finishing with career-best figures of 4/26. His spell dismantled Bangladesh’s middle order, ensuring they never gained full control of their innings. His ability to extract turn and vary his pace troubled the batters, proving instrumental in New Zealand’s victory.
What’s Next? India and New Zealand Advance, Pakistan Eliminated
With this win, New Zealand joined India in the Champions Trophy semifinals. Pakistan, the defending champions and tournament hosts, were eliminated alongside Bangladesh.
The tournament now moves into the knockout stage, where India and New Zealand will look to continue their dominant form. Can New Zealand finally break their ICC trophy drought, or will India extend their supremacy?
For the latest updates on the Champions Trophy, visit the official ICC website.
Brief Scores
Bangladesh: 236/9 in 50 overs (Najmul Hossain Shanto 77, Jaker Ali 45; Michael Bracewell 4-26)
New Zealand: 240/5 in 46.1 overs (Rachin Ravindra 112, Tom Latham 55)
Result: New Zealand won by 5 wickets
