New Zealand secured their place in the ICC Champions Trophy semi-finals with a decisive five-wicket victory over Bangladesh at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on February 24, 2025. The Kiwis’ win was powered by the exceptional performance of 24-year-old Rachin Ravindra, who scored 112 runs off 105 balls, heralding his arrival as one of the nascent stars of New Zealand cricket.
The match unfolded with Bangladesh opting to bat first, posting a total of 236 runs. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto managed to anchor the innings with his 77 runs, but lack of substantial contributions from the middle order led to their eventual vulnerability. Jaker Ali's 45 during the late stages was the only other notable score apart from Shanto's, leaving New Zealand with what appeared to be a manageable target.
New Zealand faced early turmoil, losing opener Will Young without scoring, followed by the quick dismissal of the experienced Kane Williamson, who managed only five runs. Coming to bat with the team at 15 for 2, Ravindra partnered with Devon Conway to steady the ship, crafting a 57-run third-wicket partnership before Conway fell for 30.
Ravindra's innings proved pivotal as he built on the steadiness and accelerated New Zealand's scoring rate significantly. He reached his half-century off 50 deliveries and went on to score his century—his fourth ODI hundred—within just 95 balls. His knock included 12 boundaries and one over-boundary, providing New Zealand the requisite momentum to chase down their target.
The Kiwis then saw Ravindra forge another fruitful partnership with wicketkeeper Tom Latham, managing to solidify the innings with a partnership worth 129 runs for the fourth wicket. Latham contributed 55 runs before falling to run out, but by then, Ravindra's explosive innings had already set the stage for victory.
With three and half overs to spare, New Zealand finished their chase at 240 for 5, emphasizing their well-rounded performance throughout. This victory not only enabled them to advance to the knockout stages but also eliminated Bangladesh and hosts Pakistan from the tournament, with India also benefiting from the results.
Michael Bracewell was another standout performer for New Zealand, as his brilliant bowling spell of 4 wickets for just 26 runs stifled the Bangladesh batting lineup. Bracewell's control, coupled with his ability to apply pressure on the Bangladeshi batsmen, particularly during their middle order collapse, showcased his value to the team.
Post-match, Ravindra expressed his satisfaction with the win, noting the importance of partnerships during challenging moments. He said, "Having come back from injury, it feels great to contribute to my team's success. Each run and partnership was important against such spirited bowling from Bangladesh. I am proud we delivered when it mattered."
Bangladesh's captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, had mixed emotions about the performance: "I think we started well, but losing too many wickets during the middle phases disrupted our pace. The pitch was good for batting, and we needed to adapt accordingly. Our collapse is highly disappointing and cost us the match."
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner praised the team's all-round performance, especially the bowling and Ravindra’s class: "We knew Bangladesh would be tough but our bowlers did well to keep the pressure on. Rachin has come back strongly and looks like he's never missed out; he handles pressure maturely."
New Zealand’s next challenge will be against India on March 2, where the top team from Group A will be decided. With their newfound form and confidence, they aspire to maintain their winning streak and gather momentum heading toward potential championship glory. With Bangladesh and Pakistan exiting the tournament early, the stakes are considerably heightened for New Zealand and India, both seeking top honors.
This match has reaffirmed New Zealand's capabilities to mix youth with experience and continue building for the future, especially displaying the depth they have with players like Ravindra stepping up when the pressure peaks.