New Zealand's Clinical Display Shakes Up Champions Trophy 2025
Few expected defending champions Pakistan to crash out early on home soil, but New Zealand’s unflinching performance against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi did just that. The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 saw its most dramatic group-stage shake-up as the Black Caps powered to their fourth win in a row, toppling Bangladesh by five wickets and sending both the Tigers and the hosts packing before the knockouts even begin.
This was a do-or-die clash for Bangladesh, though their campaign already hung by a thread. Winning the toss, New Zealand handed Bangladesh the bat, and right from the outset, pressure swirled thick in the February air. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto stood tall for the Bangladeshis, carving out a patient 77 off 108 deliveries. His effort anchored a lineup that kept wobbling as wickets fell at regular intervals. Only Jaker Ali, with a gritty 45 in the lower order, offered any spark after the early stumbles.
Still, the target of 236 never looked imposing, and that had plenty to do with Michael Bracewell’s stellar spell. The Kiwi all-rounder exploited the sluggish surface perfectly, snapping up 4 wickets for 26 runs. Each time a Bangladesh batter began to settle, Bracewell intervened, sending Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, and veteran Mushfiqur Rahim packing in quick succession. Mahmudullah’s cheap dismissal—caught barely after arriving—exposed Bangladesh’s middle order frailties yet again. Despite seeing through the full 50 overs, Bangladesh stuttered to just 236 for 9. They couldn’t pierce the infield often, with the outfield strokes drying up after the 30th over.
Rachin Ravindra Shines as New Zealand March On
Chasing down a middling score under tournament pressure is never simple—ask any seasoned pro. New Zealand didn’t get off to the best start: Will Young skied one in the Powerplay, and the presence of Kane Williamson was short-lived as Shakib Al Hasan found his edge early. But the Kiwis had Rachin Ravindra. Calm and compact, the left-hander controlled the moment with a knock straight out of a coaching manual.
Ravindra, who already turned heads with his consistency this tournament, hit a sumptuous 112 off 105 balls. He stitched together a match-defining stand with Tom Latham, whose 55 steadied the chase at a crucial time. The two put on 114 runs, steadily dismantling whatever resistance Bangladesh tried to muster. When Glenn Phillips joined at the death, he calmly chipped in 21 runs to seal the deal in the 47th over, putting the result—and the fate of two teams—beyond doubt.
Bangladesh tried everything—rotating spinners, short bursts from seamers, tightening the field—but it was never enough to derail Ravindra’s poise. Every boundary from his bat pulled New Zealand closer to a semifinal that now looks tailor-made for them. Bangladesh was left searching for positives in another hard-luck loss, marking their fifth failure in a row. Their Champions Trophy optimism fizzled fast.
This result not only booted Bangladesh but also ended Pakistan’s journey in their own backyard. Despite early expectations, Pakistan just couldn’t keep pace in the group, and the New Zealand victory left them mathematically stranded. Only India joins the Kiwis in the next stage from this group, setting up knockout rounds where New Zealand has momentum to burn—and less pressure than ever before.