Rachin Ravindra (Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X.com)
In a dominant show, the New Zealand side led by Mitchell Santner completed a five-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the sixth match of the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025. The show's star was Rachin Ravindra with a fine century, while Michael Bracewell proved to be the game's hero, with figures of 4/26 in his 10 overs as they chased down 237 set by the Tigers.
Here’s the timeline of how BAN vs NZ panned out in Rawalpindi:
Bangladesh Starts Off Cautiously But Lose Way In The Middle
It was a fine start for the Bangladesh side against New Zealand in the sixth match of the Champions Trophy 2025, where they were asked to bat first by the Kiwis in Rawalpindi on a hot afternoon. Opener Tanzid Hasan scored a decent 24 off 24 deliveries before departing when the side's score was 45 in 8.2 overs.
Then, soon after, all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who came in at number three, went back for just 13. Seeing the trouble, skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, who had opened the innings alongside Hasan, took on the Kiwi bowlers and provided some sigh of relief for the Tigers in the first half of the game.
However, he did not get the required support from the other end, considering they were reduced to 118 for 5, with Michael Bracewell picking figures of 4 for 26 in his 10 overs, putting Bangladesh in deep trouble.
Shanto, Jaker Leads Tigers' Resurgence After Bracewell's Four-fer
However, skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, alongside middle-order batter Jaker Ali, took the responsibility upon themselves to provide their side a much-needed push in the middle after losing their five wickets without much score on the board. Shanto reached his half-century after facing 71 deliveries but was later dismissed for just 77.
On the other hand, Jaker kept his faith in himself and took the Tigers past the 200-run mark with ease as he found some support from Rishad Hossain (26). Jaker's confident innings of 45 ended after he got run out in the 49th over as Bangladesh were able to put 236 on the board for the loss of nine wickets after the conclusion of their 50 overs. Bracewell, who picked four wickets, was decently supported by William O'Rourke with two wickets.
Kiwis Lose Two Early Wickets But Rachin Revives New Zealand's Fortune
In the second innings, the Black Caps side, chasing 237 for victory, started off rather poorly as they lost both Will Young and Kane Williamson early. Young was cleaned up by Taskin Ahmed with a ripper in the very first over, while Williamson was dismissed by Nahid Rana for just five. There was much panic in the Black Caps camp while the Tigers were breathing fire with their pace.
However, the dependable duo of Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra took matters into their own hands and provided some resurgence for the BlackCaps side. Conway went on to score 30 when he was dismissed by Mustafizur in the 16th over, as they had 72 on the board for the loss of three wickets.
Despite getting three down, Ravindra batted fluently as he found boundaries without much hassle. The duo of Ravindra and Tom Latham kept ticking the scoreboard as they took the side comfortably closer to the total. Rachin completed his half-century off 50 deliveries while New Zealand breached the 150-run mark in 29.5 overs.
Latham's Fifty, Rachin's Century Ends Bangladesh's Campaign
With 150 already on the board, the duo of Rachin Ravindra and Tom Latham went on to stage a 100-run partnership for the fourth wicket as New Zealand were inching closer to victory. Later, after that, Rachin raced to his century off 95 deliveries with 11 fours and a six by that stage. His fluent innings massively helped the Black Caps in this encounter.
Soon after that, New Zealand, in the 38th over, completed 200 runs but then lost the wicket of well-set Ravindra for 112. He went for the big shot off Rishad Hossain only to find the fielder at the boundary line, while they were still 36 runs away from their target with the score of 201.
Following Ravindra, Latham reached his half-century off 76 deliveries but then perished after getting run out by Mahmudullah for 55. With not much required, the duo of Glenn Phillips and Bracewell did the finishing job for New Zealand as they ended the game in the 46.1 over with five wickets in hand.
This victory ensured New Zealand and India's qualification while knocking Bangladesh and hosts Pakistan out of the Champions Trophy 2025.
.jpg?type=mq?im=Resize=(250, 250) "Arnav Chopra")
