New Zealand continued their impressive run in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, defeating Bangladesh by 5 wickets. This victory secured New Zealand's place in the semi-finals, while Pakistan's tournament ended.
Sports Desk: New Zealand continued their dominant performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, defeating Bangladesh by 5 wickets. This win ensured New Zealand's semi-final berth, while Pakistan's campaign came to an end. Rachin Ravindra's magnificent century laid the foundation for New Zealand's victory, achieving a double blow – eliminating Bangladesh from the tournament and shattering Pakistan's semi-final hopes.
Bangladesh's Batting Falters, Captain's Struggle in Vain
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Bangladesh had a poor start. Early wickets put the team under pressure. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (77) tried to steady the ship, but wickets continued to fall at the other end. Eventually, useful contributions from Zakir Ali (45) and Rishad Hossain (26) helped Bangladesh reach 236/9 in 50 overs. New Zealand's bowlers were disciplined, with Michael Bracewell (4/37) being the most successful.
Rachin Ravindra's Blitz
Chasing 237, New Zealand had a shaky start. Taskin Ahmed dismissed Will Young for a duck in the first over. Kane Williamson (5) also departed early. However, Rachin Ravindra then took charge. He first shared a 57-run partnership with Devon Conway (30) and then added a 129-run stand with Tom Latham (61), steering New Zealand towards victory.
Ravindra scored 112 runs off 105 balls, including 12 fours and a six, guiding his team to an easy win. Latham also played a superb innings of 61 runs. Finally, Glenn Phillips (21*) and Michael Bracewell (11*) saw New Zealand home, reaching the target at 237/5 in 46.1 overs.
Major Setback for Pakistan
With this defeat, both Bangladesh and Pakistan were eliminated from the tournament. Pakistan will play their final group match against Bangladesh on February 27th, but it's now a mere formality. Pakistan failed to live up to expectations in this tournament and their campaign ended after two losses.
New Zealand and India, both having won their two matches, have secured their semi-final spots. The match between India and New Zealand on March 2nd is now just a formality. This tournament serves as a significant learning experience for Pakistan and Bangladesh, while New Zealand and India are bly positioned in the race for the title.
