New Zealand eliminate Bangladesh to confirm semi-final berth

New Zealand have made it two from two at the ICC Champions Trophy by beating Bangladesh by five wickets in Rawalpindi, thus securing passage to the semi-finals from Group B and eliminating their opponents. 

Bangladesh’s innings of 236/9 was crafted around their captain Najmul Hossain Shanto’s 77 from 110 deliveries and a vital 55-ball 45 from Jaker Ali down the order. An effort of fits and starts, that total did not truly test New Zealand’s batting despite the early wickets of Will Young and Kane Williamson, as the returning Rachin Ravindra and Tom Latham combined to forge an alliance of 129 to set the Black Caps on their way to victory and the semi-finals.

The Player of the Match, Michael Bracewell continued his good run of form with the ball, taking four of the first five wickets to fall with his incisive offspin. An opening stand of 45 was snapped by Bracewell when he had Tanzid Hasan (25) heaving to Williamson at midwicket, followed by the dismissals of Towhid Ridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah as Bangladesh slumped to 118/5 in the 27th over.

Will O’Rourke added two wickets, chiefly Shanto when he was firmly set, while there was one each for Matt Henry and the returning Kyle Jamieson.

Young struck his fourth ODI century to help the Black Caps ease past Pakistan in Karachi, but against Bangladesh he was out for a duck in a maiden-wicket first over. Nahid Rana, Bangladesh’s fastest bowler in history, then removed Williamson for 5 to send a few jitters down the spines of Kiwi fans. 

Ravindra, back in the side for the injured Daryll Mitchell, put on a mini rescue act with Devon Conway, who made 30 off 45 balls. When Conway chopped a ball from Mustafizur Rahman onto his stumps, New Zealand’s chase was jolted at 77/3 in the 16th over.

But Ravindra, 25, batted as if he had not missed three ODIs due to a blow to the head during the recent tri-series in Pakistan. His game sense and ability to both perforate the gaps and hit hard over the infield were the stand-out feature of a fine century. Ravindra’s 112 from 105 deliveries was backed by Latham’s 76-ball 55 as New Zealand won by five wickets with 23 balls left. 

The Black Caps are now Dubai-bound to play India on March 2, with the winner of that game to finish first in Group A and then play the second-ranked team from Group B in the semi-finals.