Bangladesh’s five wicket defeat against New Zealand in their second Champions Trophy match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium ensured their elimination from the competition, reports TBS.
However, Bangladesh desired a victory to keep their hopes alive, but their failure meant New Zealand secured a semi-final berth with consecutive wins. India, having also won both matches, advanced to the last four.
Host nation Pakistan, having also lost their opening two matches, faced the same fate. Bangladesh will face Pakistan in a dead rubber on 27 February in Rawalpindi.
Skipper Nazmul Hossain Shanto was forthright when asked about Bangladesh's objective. Before departing, he stated that they were heading to the Champions Trophy with the ambition of winning the title. However, their aspirations, statements, and reality failed to align.
Following a dismal batting collapse in the opening match against India, Bangladesh repeated their shortcomings with the bat in the second fixture. Their total remained modest, and the result went against them once more. A disappointing batting display led to another defeat, this time against New Zealand, confirming Bangladesh's exit from the tournament with a match to spare.
Losing the toss, Bangladesh were put in to bat and struggled once again, much like in the match against India. Despite the overall struggles, Shanto and Zakir Ali Anik stood out with half-centuries. Tanzid Hasan Tamim contributed at the top, while Rishad Hossain played a brief but impactful innings towards the end. Bangladesh posted 236 for nine, a total that could have exceeded 300 had they maintained their early momentum.
However, the pressure of losing wickets resulted in a high number of dot balls—181 out of 300. Effectively, they scored 236 runs off 119 deliveries. In response, Rachin Ravindra's century and Tom Latham's half-century guided New Zealand to victory in 46.1 overs with 23 balls to spare.
New Zealand's chase began poorly as Taskin Ahmed dismantled Will Young's stumps in the opening over. Soon after, Kane Williamson departed, dismissed by Bangladesh's young pace bowler Rana. Reduced to 15 for two, the pressure on New Zealand eased with Devon Conway and Ravindra at the crease. Their partnership, however, did not last long, as Mustafizur Rahman removed Conway for 30 off 45 balls, including six boundaries, with the team on 72. From there, Ravindra and Latham forged a crucial stand, adding 129 runs in 136 balls for the fourth wicket.
Their partnership all but secured New Zealand's victory, propelling them past 200. Ravindra's innings concluded after an exceptional knock that steadied the chase. The left-handed all-rounder scored 112 off 105 deliveries, hitting 12 fours and a six, registering his fourth ODI century.
Latham followed soon after, having made 55 off 76 balls with three boundaries. The remaining work was completed by Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell, who had earlier troubled Bangladesh with the ball. Phillips remained unbeaten on 21, while Bracewell finished on 11 not out. Taskin, Nahid, Mustafizur, and Rishad each claimed a wicket for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh altered their opening combination, with Shanto partnering Tanzid following Soumya Sarkar's exclusion. Tanzid started aggressively, while Shanto was more composed. The pair added 45 runs in 8.2 overs before Tanzid fell to Bracewell for 24 off 24 balls, including one four and two sixes. Mehidy Hasan Miraz looked comfortable upon arrival but failed to capitalize, scoring 13 off 14 balls with a four and a six before his dismissal.
Towhid Hridoy, who struck a century in the previous match, struggled for timing and departed with the team on 97, having made seven off 24 balls. In a moment of poor judgment, Mushfiqur Rahim was dismissed cheaply, charging down the track recklessly to gift his wicket after scoring just two off five deliveries. The innings lost momentum from this point, as Mahmudullah Riyad's dismissal at 118 further dented Bangladesh's scoring rate.
Amidst the collapse, Shanto held firm. He built a partnership with Zakir, adding 45 runs in 67 deliveries, the highest stand of the innings, equalling the opening partnership. Shanto's dismissal ended the stand, but he had already recorded his tenth ODI half-century, scoring a team-best 77 off 110 balls, including nine boundaries. Zakir and Rishad then added 33 runs off 35 deliveries.
Rishad's 26 off 25 balls, featuring two fours and a six, was the third-highest score of the innings. Zakir, who battled until the 49th over before being run out, contributed 45 off 55 balls, striking three fours and a six. Taskin Ahmed made 10 off 20 deliveries, with a single boundary.
Bracewell was Bangladesh's chief tormentor with the ball, producing his career-best figures of four for 26 in 10 overs. It was also the best bowling performance by a New Zealand spinner in the history of the Champions Trophy. Will O'Rourke took two wickets, while Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson claimed one each.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
