ICC Champions Trophy 2025: New Zealand Secures Semi-Final Spot with Rachin Ravindra's Century
Image credits: AP Photo
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has witnessed a thrilling encounter between New Zealand and Bangladesh, with the former emerging victorious and securing their semi-final spot. Rachin Ravindra played a pivotal role in the match, scoring a century on his Champions Trophy debut and guiding his team to a win. New Zealand's victory meant that hosts Pakistan were knocked out of the tournament, along with Bangladesh, while India also made their way into the final four.
Rachin Ravindra's impressive performance was the highlight of the match, as he slammed his fourth ODI century and combined with Tom Latham for a 129-run fourth-wicket stand. The duo took over from 72/3 and steered their team towards a convincing win. Ravindra's century was also notable for being the fifth fastest for the Black Caps, as he completed 1000 runs in ODI cricket in his 26th innings. The cricket world has taken notice of Ravindra's exceptional talent, and his performance in the Champions Trophy 2025 has been a testament to his skills.
Earlier in the match, Taskin Ahmed got Bangladesh off to a perfect start, rattling Will Young's stumps off the final delivery of the first over for a duck. Kane Williamson also departed early, chasing a delivery from Nahid Rana outside off stump. However, Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway steadied the ship for the Black Caps, combining to counter-attack the Bangladesh bowlers and forging a steady fifty-run partnership. The batting display by the New Zealand duo was impressive, and their partnership played a crucial role in the team's victory.
The match also saw some exceptional bowling performances, with Michel Bracewell making an impact for New Zealand. He sent Tanzid Hasan back to the dugout in the ninth over and later dismissed Mehidy Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, and Mahmud Ullah to finish with four wickets. The New Zealand bowlers' performance was commendable, and their efforts restricted Bangladesh to 236/9. The team's fielding was also impressive, with some exceptional catches being taken throughout the match.
In other news, former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has made a bold prediction about the Champions Trophy 2025, stating that Team India would not make the semi-final stage of the tournament. Amir cited Jasprit Bumrah's absence as a decisive factor and backed both Pakistan and New Zealand to beat India in Dubai conditions. However, with New Zealand's win over Bangladesh, they have secured their semi-final spot, and India's chances of making it to the final four are still intact. The tournament is expected to be highly competitive, with several teams vying for the top spots. Some of the key teams and players to watch out for include:
- India: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah
- New Zealand: Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, and Tom Latham
- Pakistan: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi
- Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, and Mushfiqur Rahim
Related Tags