Champions Trophy 2025: Ravindra Ravindra, Michael Bracewell Star As New Zealand Beat Bangladesh To Qualify For Semifinals
Rachin Ravindra shepherded New Zealand’s chase with a well timed century as his staff recovered from an early wobble to see off Bangladesh by 5 wickets and safe its place within the semifinals of the Champions Trophy in Rawalpindi on Monday.
Victory for the Black Caps additionally confirmed India’s slot within the semifinals whereas eliminating event hosts Pakistan and Bangladesh from the mega occasion. Each India and New Zealand have gained their first two matches, together with in opposition to Pakistan.
Earlier than Ravindra’s chancy hundred, all-rounder Michael Bracewell did the star flip with a four-wicket haul as New Zealand restricted Bangladesh to 236 for 9.
In reply, New Zealand have been off to a disastrous begin as they misplaced the wickets of Will Younger and Kane Williamson with simply 15 runs on the board. However they rallied to finish the chase in 46.1 overs, with Ravindra making 112 off 105 balls with the assistance of 12 fours and a six.
Tom Latham struck 55 in 76 balls, whereas including 129 runs for the fourth wicket with Ravindra which sealed the deal in New Zealand’s favour.
Bangladesh had their moments although with the ball.
Taskin Ahmed removed Younger with a powerful inswinger that crashed via the batter’s defence to disturb the stumps with New Zealand but to open their account.
Enjoying this sport after his shock omission from the conflict in opposition to India, specific tempo bowler Nahid Rana then made brief work of Kane Williamson (5), who drove away from his physique, obtained an out of doors edge, and Mushfiqur Rahim accepted the providing gleefully.
A partnership of 57 runs adopted between Devon Conway (30) and Ravindra earlier than the wily left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman obtained Conway to cut one onto his stumps, leaving the Kiwis at a tough 72 for 3 within the sixteenth over. Then got here the match-winning partnership of Ravindra and Latham.
Earlier, Bracewell, the left-handed batter who bowls off-spin, was measly in addition to efficient, ending with glorious figures of 4/26 in 10 overs.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto top-scored for Bangladesh with a 77 that got here off 110 balls, because the staff’s specialist batters appeared to have lacked a plan within the center overs and didn’t have a goal in thoughts of their must-win sport.
Quantity seven Jaker Ali chipped in with 45 off 55 balls, giving batting classes to those who failed on the high of the order and within the center.
Opting to discipline, New Zealand didn’t style success straightaway as skipper Shanto and Tanzid Hasan put up 45 runs for the primary wicket earlier than the latter was dismissed for a run-a-ball 24 by Bracewell.
Bracewell tossed one up and Tanzid seemed to assault however failed to attach, as Kane Williamson accomplished a diving effort at midwicket.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz obtained off the mark in model, utilizing the toes to smash a Bracewell supply for a six straight down the bottom. Miraz (13 off 14 balls), nonetheless, gave it away after a promising begin as he did not clear mid-on whereas attempting to chip a fuller ball angling onto the pads.
As Shanto saved discovering the occasional boundaries, New Zealand struck once more, eliminating Towhid Hridoy (7), due to a superb catch from Williamson who ran again from further cowl to carry the ball over his shoulder after the batter did not time a Bracewell supply.
With Bangladesh having misplaced their third wicket within the twenty first over with simply 97 runs on the board, in got here Mushfiqur Rahim and loads trusted the seasoned campaigner, however all he did was make two runs off 5 balls earlier than perishing to Bracewell, who was having fun with a productive outing with the ball.
Trying to unsettle the bowler with a giant hit, Mushfiqur went for a slog-sweep, however his shot lacked the facility to go the gap as Ravindra accomplished the catch at deep mid-wicket.
Skipper Shanto, in the meantime, reached his half-century with a single to deep sq. leg. What damage Bangladesh in that part of the sport was that their batters performed out 86 dot balls within the first 21 overs.
One other wicket was thrown away when the seasoned Mahmudullah ended up getting a forefront whereas seeking to clobber the ball straight down the bottom, giving Bracewell his fourth wicket.
William O’Rourke then obtained the large wicket of Shanto to consolidate New Zealand’s place and complicate issues for Bangladesh.
