Bangladesh’s Batting Woes Continue, New Zealand Cruise to Second Win
It was another forgettable outing for Bangladesh as they slumped to their second consecutive defeat in the Champions Trophy 2025, this time at the hands of an in-form New Zealand side. With this win, the Kiwis strengthened their semifinal hopes, while Bangladesh now face the risk of finishing the tournament winless.
Bracewell Spins a Web, Ravindra-Latham Lay the Foundation
Michael Bracewell was the star with the ball, claiming crucial wickets and controlling the middle overs masterfully. “The key was to keep the stumps in play and bowl straight,” he said after picking up the Player of the Match award.
Earlier, it was the Rachin Ravindra–Tom Latham partnership that set the tone. The pair put on 129 runs—one of New Zealand’s highest partnerships in Champions Trophy history. Ravindra’s elegant 112-run knock was punctuated with precision strokeplay, with over half his runs (61) coming through the cover and point regions.
NZ’s All-Round Strength Shines
New Zealand now boast a remarkable stat—seven different Player of the Match winners in seven ODI victories in 2025, showing their depth and versatility. Their batting lineup has fired consistently, and with two quality spinners and a strong pace unit, they look like one of the tournament’s most well-rounded sides.
Bangladesh: Time for a Rebuild?
Bangladesh’s long-standing issues in ICC tournaments were on full display once again. A promising start with the bat quickly unraveled due to a middle-order collapse. Najmul Hossain Shanto admitted, “We didn’t bat properly. It was a good wicket and we needed two big partnerships.”
Despite standout bowling from Nahid Rana, the Tigers never had enough on the board. The absence of experienced names like Shakib Al Hasan and Litton Das did little to change fortunes. The over-reliance on veterans like Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah yielded little. The time might be ripe for a structural overhaul in Bangladesh’s white-ball approach.
Ravindra’s Run Map and Latham’s Legacy
Rachin Ravindra has scored 25.23% of his ODI runs through the cover and backward point areas, getting out just once in that region. His 112 against Bangladesh is now part of New Zealand’s growing list of CT hundreds:
- 145* – Nathan Astle vs USA (2004)
- 118* – Tom Latham vs Pakistan (2025)
- 112 – Rachin Ravindra vs Bangladesh (2025)
- 107 – Will Young vs Pakistan (2025)
- 102* – Chris Cairns vs India (2000 Final)
- 100 – Kane Williamson vs Australia (2017)
Latham has now been involved in three of New Zealand’s 12 century stands in Champions Trophy history, tying with Nathan Astle for the most.
What Next?
New Zealand face their biggest test yet when they clash with tournament heavyweights India. It promises to be a blockbuster. Meanwhile, Bangladesh will play Pakistan in their final group game and will hope to sign off with a win, though their campaign has already raised serious questions about their long-term strategy.
Category: Cricket, Champions Trophy 2025, Match Highlights
Tags: New Zealand vs Bangladesh, Champions Trophy 2025, Rachin Ravindra, Michael Bracewell, Tom Latham, NZ cricket, Bangladesh collapse, Najmul Shanto, Santner
