Ravindra’s knock of 112 propels New Zealand into Champions Trophy semifinals

Kiwis chase down Bangladesh’s total of 236 in 46.1 overs

Rawalpindi: Rachin Ravindra shepherded New Zealand’s chase with a timely century as his team recovered from an early wobble to see off Bangladesh by five wickets and secure its place in the semifinals of the Champions Trophy here on Monday.

Victory for the Black Caps also confirmed India’s slot in the semifinals while eliminating tournament hosts Pakistan and Bangladesh from the mega event. Both India and New Zealand have won their first two matches, including against Pakistan.

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Before Ravindra’s chancy hundred, all-rounder Michael Bracewell did the star turn with a four-wicket haul as New Zealand restricted Bangladesh to 236 for nine.

In reply, New Zealand were off to a disastrous start as they lost the wickets of Will Young and Kane Williamson with just 15 runs on the board. But they rallied to complete the chase in 46.1 overs, with Ravindra making 112 off 105 balls with the help of 12 fours and a six.

Tom Latham struck 55 in 76 balls, while adding 129 runs for the fourth wicket with Ravindra which sealed the deal in New Zealand’s favour.

Bangladesh had their moments though with the ball.

Taskin Ahmed got rid of Young with a magnificent inswinger that crashed through the batter’s defence to disturb the stumps with New Zealand yet to open their account.

Playing this game after his surprise omission from the clash against India, express pace bowler Nahid Rana then made short work of Kane Williamson (5), who drove away from his body, got an outside edge, and Mushfiqur Rahim accepted the offering gleefully.

A partnership of 57 runs followed between Devon Conway (30) and Ravindra before the wily left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman got Conway to chop one onto his stumps, laving the Kiwis at a tricky 72 for three in the 16th over. Then came the match-winning partnership between Ravindra and Latham.

Earlier, Bracewell, the left-handed batter who bowls off-spin, was measly as well as effective, finishing with excellent figures of 4/26 in 10 overs.

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto top-scored for Bangladesh with a 77 that came off 110 balls, as the team’s specialist batters seemed to have lacked a plan in the middle overs and did not have a target in mind in their must-win game.

Number seven Jaker Ali chipped in with 45 off 55 balls, giving batting lessons to the ones who failed at the top of the order and in the middle. Opting to field, New Zealand did not taste success straightaway as skipper Shanto and Tanzid Hasan put up 45 runs for the first wicket before the latter was dismissed for a run-a-ball 24 by Bracewell.

Bracewell tossed one up and Tanzid looked to attack but failed to connect, as Kane Williamson completed a diving effort at midwicket.

 

Scorecard

Bangladesh
Tanzid Hasan c Williamson b Bracewell 24, Najmul Hossain Shanto c Bracewell b O’Rourke 77, Mehidy Hasan Miraz c Santner b O’Rourke 13, Towhid Hridoy c Williamson b Bracewell 7, Mushfiqur Rahim c Ravindra b Bracewell 2, Mahmudullah c O’Rourke b Bracewell 4, Jaker Ali run out (Latham) 45, Rishad Hossain c Santner b Henry 26, Taskin Ahmed c Conway b Jamieson 10, Mustafizur Rahman not out 3, Nahid Rana not out 0;

Extras: 25 (lb-3, w-22)

Total: 236/9 in 50 overs

Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-64, 3-97, 4-106, 5-118, 6-163, 7-196, 8-231, 9-236; Bowling: Matt Henry 9-0-57-1, Kyle Jamieson 9-1-48-1, Michael Bracewell 10-0-26-4, William O’Rourke 10-1-48-2, Mitchell Santner 10-1-44-0, Glenn Phillips 2-0-10-0

 

New Zealand
Will Young b Taskin Ahmed 0, Devon Conway b Mustafizur 30, Kane Williamson c Mushfiqur Rahim b Nahid Rana 5, Rachin Ravindra c Parvez Hossain Emon b Rishad Hossain 112, Tom Latham run out 55, Glenn Phillips not out 21, Michael Bracewell not out 11;

Extras: 6 (b-4, w-2) 

Total: 240/5 in 46.1 overs

Fall of wickets: 0-1, 15-2, 72-3, 201-4, 214-5; Bowling: Taskin Ahmed 7-2-28-1, Nahid Rana 9-0-43-1, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 10-0-53-0, Mustafizur Rahman 10-0-42-1, Rishad Hossain 9.1-0-58-1, Najmul Hossain Shanto 1-0-12-0