Bangladesh vs New Zealand:New Zealand thumped Bangladesh by five wickets in a crucial Group A match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on February 24, 2025, to sail into the semi-finals. Not only did this victory send New Zealand through to the knockout stage, but both Pakistan and Bangladesh were eliminated from the tournament.
Match Overview: Bangladesh vs New Zealand
After winning the toss, Bangladesh decided to bat and put up 236 for 9 in their 50 overs. New Zealand, batting second, replied with 237 for 5 in 46.1 overs.
Bangladesh’s Innings
A considerable chunk of their innings — 178 dot balls — bore no fruit as the Bangladesh cricket batting order struggled to accelerate. Najmul Hossain Shanto resisted strongly with a gritty 77 and Jaker Ali supported him with a steady 45. Even so, the team faltered in trying to accelerate, largely thanks to disciplined bowling by New Zealand.
Bowling performance of New Zealand
Michael Bracewell was the pick of the bowlers, with figures of 4 for 26. Captain Mitchell Santner praised Bracewell’s performance and said it was vital to pick up wickets in the middle phases to break the flow of the other team.
New Zealand’s Chase
Chasing a small target, New Zealand started their innings poorly, quickly losing two wickets. But Rachin Ravindra guided the chase expertly, scoring an unbeaten 112, his fourth century in the one-day format. Tom Latham provided concerted support with him there, adding a further 55 runs to the scoreboard. Their partnership steadied the innings and kept New Zealand on track. Ravindra’s ability to rotate the strike and find boundaries at crucial junctures helped relieve the pressure as his team ended their victory with 23 balls to spare.
Implications of the Result
This win put New Zealand first in Group A and ensured their place in the semi-finals. The results also ended Pakistan and Bangladesh’s tournament. Next, New Zealand looks to face India in Dubai to decide the group winner, and that should be a top contest of two teams in form.
Post-Match Reflections: Bangladesh vs New Zealand
After the match, Bangladesh captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto bemoaned his side’s batting, in particular, their failure to make starts and the amount of dot balls played that meant they struggled to build a scoring rate. He also said the batters needed to pick better shots and were playing late for further competitive totals in the upcoming games.
In contrast, New Zealand’s camp bristled with confidence. Captain Mitchell Santner emphasized the balanced performance of the team, with both bowlers and batsmen playing their part. He added all-round performances will be important as the tournament enters the knockout stages.
Looking Forward: Bangladesh vs New Zealand
With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 progressing, the real title stays ideal for the leftover teams. The presence of New Zealand in the finals has established them as serious contenders while other teams will clearly examine and learn from strategies employed in the match.
