New Zealand secured a spot in the ICC Champions Trophy semifinals after a dominant five-wicket victory over Bangladesh in a crucial Group A encounter. Rachin Ravindra was the star of the show, scoring an elegant 112 off 105 balls, leading New Zealand to a comfortable chase of Bangladesh’s 236. Ravindra’s performance not only ensured New Zealand’s progression but also put them on top of the Group A standings, alongside India, who also qualified for the next stage. The defeat meant that both Bangladesh and defending champions Pakistan were eliminated from the tournament.
Ravindra Steers New Zealand to Semifinals
Rachin Ravindra’s century came at the perfect time, making his Champions Trophy debut a memorable one after being drafted into the team following an illness to Daryl Mitchell. His scintillating knock of 112 runs proved to be the turning point in a game that was not without its challenges for the Kiwis. Early setbacks left New Zealand reeling at 15/2, with Taskin Ahmed bowling Will Young out with an incoming delivery and Nahid Rana having Kane Williamson caught behind.
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Despite the early pressure, Ravindra’s composed innings steadied the ship for New Zealand. His impressive stroke play helped him accumulate boundaries with ease, and his partnership with Devon Conway (34) pushed the chase forward. The pair added a crucial 57 runs before Conway was dismissed by Mustafizur Rahman, but Ravindra continued to dominate, flicking the ball to the boundary and finding gaps effortlessly.
The middle of the innings saw Ravindra in full flow, as he played an attacking brand of cricket, punishing Taskin Ahmed through the covers and finding runs with ease. Conway, who was solid at the other end, also contributed three boundaries off Rana in one over, ensuring the pressure was released off Ravindra. New Zealand’s chase was slowly moving in the right direction, and the 129-run partnership between Ravindra and Tom Latham (55) brought them within touching distance of victory.
Latham, in particular, played a supporting role, adopting a risk-free approach that complemented Ravindra’s aggressive stroke play. While Latham’s knock of 55 runs didn’t have the same flamboyance as Ravindra’s, it was just what New Zealand needed in a high-pressure chase. Latham’s measured approach ensured that the required rate stayed under control and gave Ravindra the freedom to go for his shots.
Though Ravindra was dropped twice, Bangladesh’s hopes had been extinguished by the time the drops occurred, with the scoreboard ticking over steadily. Both Ravindra and Latham fell after New Zealand had crossed 200, but the job was already done, and the Kiwis comfortably reached their target in just 46.1 overs.
Bangladesh’s Disappointing Batting Display
Bangladesh, who were put in to bat first, got off to a promising start, with openers Tanzid Hasan and Litton Das adding 45 runs before Michael Bracewell struck. The offspinner was the key figure in New Zealand’s successful effort to put the brakes on Bangladesh’s run-scoring. Bracewell removed Tanzid Hasan with a miscue to midwicket and continued his spell of dominance, finishing with career-best figures of 4-26 in 10 overs. His incisive bowling had Bangladesh struggling in the middle overs, where they lost key wickets and failed to build partnerships.
Najmul Hossain Shanto was the lone bright spot for Bangladesh, as he played a steady knock of 77 runs. Shanto’s patient innings was the backbone of Bangladesh’s total, but he lacked support from the other end. The middle order collapsed as the pressure mounted, with Mehidy Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Mahmudullah all attempting and failing to accelerate the scoring rate. Bracewell’s spell decimated the middle-order, with Bangladesh losing half their side for just 118 runs.
Once Shanto fell to a short ball from Will O’Rourke, Bangladesh’s hopes of posting a competitive total faded. Despite a brief late charge from Jaker Ali (45) and Rishad Hossain, who helped push the total over 200, it was clear that the total of 236 was below par. The pitch at Rawalpindi, known for producing high-scoring games, had already seen New Zealand chase down challenging targets, and Bangladesh’s effort was always going to be under threat from a strong Kiwi batting lineup.
New Zealand’s Clinical Approach
Chasing 237 for victory, New Zealand approached the task with confidence and poise. Ravindra’s partnership with Latham ensured there was never any real danger of a collapse. Though New Zealand lost two early wickets, including that of Kane Williamson, the combination of Ravindra’s aggression and Latham’s stability ensured the chase remained in their control.
Ravindra, whose knock included a flurry of boundaries, was the key contributor in the chase, and with the help of Latham’s composed innings, New Zealand reached 240/5 in 46.1 overs, sealing their spot in the semifinals.
A Roller-Coaster Tournament for Bangladesh
The defeat marked a disappointing end for Bangladesh, who had been competitive throughout the tournament but fell short in crucial moments. Their inability to build partnerships with the bat, coupled with a lackluster performance from the middle order, cost them dearly. Despite Shanto’s resilience and a late fightback from the lower order, Bangladesh could not post a challenging total, and their elimination from the tournament was sealed.
India Also Qualify from Group A
In a separate but equally significant development, India qualified for the semifinals from Group A as well. With New Zealand securing their spot, India’s progression was ensured, meaning the final spots in the knockout stage will see these two cricketing giants face off with Pakistan and Bangladesh knocked out in an underwhelming exit for the defending champions.
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) by 5 wickets
