New Zealand secured their spot in the semifinals of the ICC Champions Trophy by defeating Bangladesh by five wickets at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on February 24, 2025. Rachin Ravindra's outstanding century became the highlight, as he scored 112 runs off 105 balls, leading his team to victory with nearly four overs to spare. This win not only propelled New Zealand forward but also ensured the elimination of hosts and defending champions Pakistan, as well as Bangladesh.
The match marked New Zealand's seamless transition between generations, showcasing their new talent as they played without star player Kane Williamson for much of the tournament. Sadly for Bangladesh, the match felt like one they had to win to stay alive, yet they stumbled under pressure as their middle order faltered against New Zealand's disciplined bowling.
Set to chase 237, New Zealand encountered early trouble, losing two wickets for just 15 runs with Will Young dismissed without scoring and Williamson making only five. Taskin Ahmed's nip-backers caused turmoil at the start of the innings. But Ravindra stood tall, teaming up with Devon Conway to build the foundation of their chase.
Ravindra started slowly, taking time to adjust to the conditions, but quickly found his rhythm, displaying impressive touch and timing. He piloted New Zealand with steady strokes, finding gaps with ease. After 12 overs, Ravindra had 23 runs with five boundaries, signaling his intent to stabilize the innings. He formed significant partnerships first with Conway for 57 runs and later with Tom Latham, putting together 129 runs to steer New Zealand toward the target.
Although Ravindra was lucky to escape being caught at 93, he soon completed his fourth ODI century, marking 11 fours and one six. His performance exceeded expectations, especially since he had missed the last three one-day internationals due to injury.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh struggled to maintain their momentum after getting off to a promising start. The initial performance was undermined as Michael Bracewell unleashed his off-spin, taking four wickets for just 26 runs. He dominated the middle order and set the tone for New Zealand’s successful pursuit of Bangladesh’s total.
Bracewell's strategic bowling created pressure, leading to key wickets including Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah. The experienced Rahim fell for just two runs after trying to up the scoring rate against Bracewell's crafty deliveries. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto’s 77 fell short as their total stagnated, resulting in ill-timed dismissals and lost momentum.
Despite Bangladesh's initial upper hand, they finished at 236 for 9, hampered by smart bowling and their inability to rotate the strike effectively. The last overs proved problematic for Bangladesh, allowing New Zealand to restrict them to less than competitive total.
Then came the dramatic moment when Rachin Ravindra was confronted by an unexpected pitch invader during the match. A supporter with ties to the Islamist group Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) rushed onto the ground and hugged him before security personnel intervened. Although shocking, this incident highlighted the security concerns surrounding the tournament amid reports of potential threats.
After the brief disruption, play continued without incident, as Ravindra focused on the task at hand, steering New Zealand to victory alongside Latham. The match concluded with Glenn Phillips finishing the game on 21 not out, showcasing the team's ability to return strong from early setbacks.
Captain Mitchell Santner expressed satisfaction at the team’s performance, remarking on the bowling strengths and their ability to pull things back during the game. "Feels nice to qualify," he stated, crediting Bracewell's stellar performance and adaptability on the pitch.
On the opposing side, Shanto pointed out the shortfall of runs and missing partnerships as key factors to their loss, stating, "It’s a pretty good wicket, we just needed two big partnerships, but it was disappointing (total) after 10 overs." Both teams must now reflect on the match as the tournament progresses, with New Zealand eagerly eyeing the semifinals and Bangladesh heading home.