BAN Vs NZ: New Zealand Storms into the Semi-Final of Champions Trophy

BAN Vs NZ: New Zealand comfortably defeated Bangladesh by 5 wickets, securing their spot in the semi-finals.

This victory not only guarantees New Zealand’s place in the semi-finals but also assures India’s qualification, leaving only the battle for the top spot in the group.

Pakistan’s long-awaited ICC tournament at home concludes in disappointment, as they, along with Bangladesh, become the first two teams to be bowled out. Meanwhile, the Black Caps maintain their dominance in this format, appearing more focused and determined than ever to claim the trophy.

New Zealand found themselves in early trouble, losing Will Young (0) and Kane Williamson (5) for low scores. However, Rachin Ravindra, returning after a head injury, joined forces with Devon Conway to steady the innings. The pair looked comfortable, building a vital partnership before Conway (30) was dismissed after a solid start. 

Ravindra (112), though, was in exceptional form, hitting a magnificent fourth ODI century and becoming the first Kiwi to score four hundred in ICC events. Meanwhile, Tom Latham (55) continued his excellent form, contributing a well-played fifty.

Although both were dismissed before the end, Glenn Phillips (21*) and Michael Bracewell (11*) ensured a smooth finish, guiding New Zealand to a comfortable victory with plenty of overs remaining.

Bangladesh simply didn’t have enough runs to defend. Taskin Ahmed gave them a perfect start with a wicket in the first over, and Nahid Rana’s dismissal of Kane Williamson lifted their spirits. However, they couldn’t capitalize on that early success, as a couple of significant partnerships allowed New Zealand to seize control of the game. A missed run-out opportunity when Ravindra was in his 20s, followed by another dropped catch, proved them expensive.

Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman, and Rishad Hossain each took a single wicket apiece. 

BAN Vs NZ: 1st inning

Earlier in the match, Bangladesh struggled once again to post a large total. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto fought valiantly with a determined (77) but lacked consistent support from his teammates. Jaker Ali (45) contributed with a useful innings, while Tanzid Hasan (24) and Rishad Hossain (26) made minor contributions, but it wasn’t enough to make a significant impact.

For New Zealand, Michael Bracewell was the star bowler for New Zealand, claiming four wickets (4-26), while the pacers worked together to take another four, effectively restricting Bangladesh to 236/9.

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