Rawalpindi – New Zealand Defeats Bangladesh in the sixth match of the ICC Champions Trophy, bringing an end to host Pakistan’s journey in the tournament. With this result, Pakistan is now officially out of the race for the semi-finals. New Zealand’s five-wicket victory over Bangladesh shattered Pakistan’s remaining hopes of qualification.
In this crucial encounter at Pindi Cricket Stadium, Bangladesh had set a target of 237 runs for New Zealand. The Black Caps successfully chased the total, securing their spot in the semi-finals by reaching 237/5, thanks to a brilliant century by Rachin Ravindra.
Bangladesh’s Batting Struggles
Earlier, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and chose to field first. Openers Najmul Hossain Shanto and Tanzid Hasan provided a decent start, but the middle order collapsed. Tanzid was dismissed for 24, while Mehdi Hasan Miraz (13), Towhid Hridoy (7), Mushfiqur Rahim (2), and Mahmudullah (4) all failed to make an impact.
Read This: Bangladesh vs New Zealand Champions Trophy Match: NZ Needs 237 Runs to Win
However, captain Shanto, in partnership with Zakir Ali, stabilized the innings. Shanto scored 77 runs before getting out, while Zakir contributed 45. Rishad Hossain (26) and Taskin Ahmed (10) added some runs toward the end, helping Bangladesh finish at 236/9 in 50 overs.
For New Zealand, Michael Bracewell was the standout bowler with four wickets. Will O’Rourke took two wickets, while Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson picked up one each.
Bangladesh Played 178 Dot Balls
Bangladesh’s struggle was evident as they played 178 dot balls (approximately 30 overs), significantly restricting their scoring rate. This was a key factor in their inability to set a bigger total. Earlier in the tournament, New Zealand had also bowled 162 dot balls against Pakistan, affecting their strike rate and securing a 60-run victory. Similarly, Pakistan had played 147 dot balls against India, which resulted in a 6-wicket loss.
Read This: “Champions Trophy: Bangladesh vs New Zealand Match – Bengali Batters Play 178 Dot Balls”
New Zealand’s Chase
Chasing 237, New Zealand had a shaky start as Kane Williamson (5) and Will Young (0) were dismissed early. However, Rachin Ravindra took control, first adding 57 runs with Devon Conway (30) and then forming a match-winning 129-run partnership with Tom Latham.
Ravindra completed his century and scored 112 before getting out. Latham also contributed 55 runs before being run out. Despite losing wickets in the latter stage, New Zealand comfortably reached the target in the 47th over, finishing at 237/5. For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed, Naheed Rana, Mustafizur Rahman, and Rishad Hossain took one wicket each.
Focus Was on Winning, Pakistan Crowd Supported Well: Shanto
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto admitted that their Champions Trophy campaign was disappointing but emphasized that the focus was on winning today’s match. He also appreciated the support from the Pakistan crowd.
Speaking at a press conference after the match against New Zealand in Rawalpindi, Shanto said that Bangladesh’s bowlers started well, and he was satisfied with their performance as captain.
He highlighted that Bangladesh has talented spinners and fast bowlers but needs to improve in fielding and batting. He further stated that the team will work on strengthening its batting after the Champions Trophy.
Shanto reiterated that Bangladesh remained focused on winning matches and once again praised the support from the Pakistan crowd. He expressed hope that the fans would continue to support them in their upcoming match against Pakistan.
Pakistan and Bangladesh Eliminated from the Champions Trophy
With this defeat, both Pakistan and Bangladesh have been eliminated from the ICC Champions Trophy. Their upcoming group-stage match will now be a mere formality.
New Zealand had earlier defeated Pakistan in their first match, while Bangladesh had lost to India. Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan had already accepted his team’s fate after the loss to India, stating, “We lost to India and New Zealand. Now, relying on other teams to win for us is not our way; if we want to win, we must do it on our own.”
New Zealand Defeats Bangladesh, Ending Pakistan’s Champions Trophy Campaign
For Pakistan to qualify for the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy, it was crucial for Bangladesh to defeat New Zealand by a significant margin in today’s match. Additionally, it was also necessary for India to beat New Zealand by a heavy margin.
In the 2025 Champions Trophy, defending champions and hosts Pakistan’s journey has come to an end. The national team is out of the semi-final race, making the group match against Bangladesh a mere formality.
