New Zealand secured a place in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy with a commanding five-wicket win against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, led by an impressive century from Rachin Ravindra. This victory not only propelled New Zealand into the next stage but also confirmed the elimination of the defending champions, Pakistan, and Bangladesh from the tournament.
Ravindra, who had missed the previous three ODIs due to a head injury sustained 16 days ago, made a remarkable comeback, scoring 112 runs off 105 balls. New Zealand successfully chased down Bangladesh’s total of 236, finishing at 240 for five in just 46.1 overs.
The Bangladeshi middle order faltered against the spin of Michael Bracewell, who excelled with impressive figures of 4-26 over 10 overs. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was the standout for Bangladesh with a score of 77, while the team collectively recorded 25 extras, marking the fourth-highest total for the innings.
New Zealand’s captain, Mitchell Santner, expressed his satisfaction with the qualification, emphasising the team’s ability to regain control in the crucial middle overs, particularly praising Bracewell’s performance and skill in varying his bowling pace on the pitch.
New Zealand faced a challenging start, slumping to 15 for two after losing Will Young for a duck and Kane Williamson, who managed just five runs in another disappointing outing. However, Ravindra built a solid partnership with Devon Conway, adding 57 runs for the third wicket before Conway was dismissed for 30 by Mustafizur Rahman.
Tom Latham then joined Ravindra at the crease, and together they constructed a decisive 129-run partnership. Both left-handers navigated the Bangladeshi bowling attack effectively, dealing well with both pace and spin. Ravindra reached his century in style, hitting a total of 11 fours and a six, though he was given a let-off on 93 when a catch at point went down.
After reaching his century, Ravindra was once again dropped before finally being dismissed after making 112 runs. Latham also made a valuable contribution, scoring 55 runs before being run out, leaving New Zealand just 23 runs short of their target.
Bracewell ultimately wrapped up the match with a well-placed boundary, while Glenn Phillips remained not out on 21. Reflecting on the win, Bracewell remarked on the pleasure of finishing the game in style. This triumph marked a significant step for New Zealand as they continue their run in the tournament.