New Zealand defeat Bangladesh to secure ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final spot

New Zealand defeated Bangladesh by five wickets at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on February 24 to secure their place in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals. The victory also confirmed India's qualification from Group A, while eliminating both Bangladesh and hosts Pakistan from the tournament. Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto anchored the innings with 77 runs from 110 balls, including nine boundaries. Jaker Ali contributed 45 from 55 deliveries, while Rishad Hossain added a quick 26 off 25 balls. However, New Zealand's bowling attack, led by spinner Michael Bracewell, restricted Bangladesh's momentum through the middle overs. Bracewell finished with figures of 4 for 26 from his 10 overs, making crucial breakthroughs that prevented Bangladesh from accelerating in the death overs. Will O'Rourke provided support with 2 for 48. Bangladesh posted 236 for 9 from their 50 overs, a total that appeared below par on a surface that had historically favoured batters. New Zealand's chase began poorly when Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana struck early blows. Nahid Rana dismissed Kane Williamson for a single-digit score, while Will Young also fell cheaply. At 15 for 2, New Zealand faced immediate pressure. Rachin Ravindra, batting at number four after replacing an ill Daryl Mitchell in the playing eleven, steadied the innings with Devon Conway. After Conway fell for 30 to Mustafizur Rahman, Ravindra found an ideal partner in Tom Latham. The pair constructed a match-defining stand of 129 runs that broke the back of the chase. Ravindra reached his century off 105 balls, displaying the pure timing and gap-finding ability that has defined his rise in international cricket. Latham contributed a composed 55 from 76 balls, managing the crisis with the experience expected of a former captain. New Zealand reached 240 for 5 in 46.1 overs, winning with 23 balls to spare. Bracewell, who had earlier dismantled Bangladesh's batting, finished the match unbeaten on 11. The result confirmed New Zealand's second consecutive victory in the tournament following their opening win against Pakistan. Both New Zealand and India progressed to the semi-finals from Group A with two wins each. For Bangladesh, the defeat ended their Champions Trophy campaign and highlighted persistent challenges in ICC tournament knockout situations. Despite Shanto's determined effort with the bat, the team's inability to post a competitive total and contain New Zealand's middle-order proved decisive.