ICC Champions Trophy 2025: New Zealand Beats Bangladesh, India and Kiwis Advance to Semis

Image credits: AP Photo

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has witnessed a significant turn of events, with New Zealand's comprehensive victory over Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Monday. This win not only secured New Zealand's spot in the semi-finals but also paved the way for India to advance to the next stage. Rachin Ravindra scored a brilliant century after a sensational bowling performance from Michael Bracewell, as New Zealand defeated Bangladesh by 5 wickets. The result also meant that New Zealand became the second team from Group A to book their spot in the knockout stages of the competition.

However, it also meant that Bangladesh and Pakistan were eliminated from the competition as both teams have two losses each. India will face New Zealand in their final group stage match, while Bangladesh will take on Pakistan, but both encounters will have no significance other than deciding which team will top the group en route to the semifinals. New Zealand beat Bangladesh by five wickets in a Champions Trophy Group A match, a result which sent the Kiwis as well as India into the Champions Trophy semifinals. New Zealand's win meant that Bangladesh and hosts Pakistan, who have lost both their two matches so far, were knocked out of the tournament.

India and New Zealand have four points each from two wins so far in Group A. The top two teams from each group qualify for the semifinals. Rachin Ravindra (112) struck a magnificent century as New Zealand chased down the target of 237 with 23 balls to spare. Tom Latham and Devon Conway chipped in with 55 and 30 respectively as New Zealand reached 240 for 5 in 46.1 overs. Earlier, Michael Bracewell bagged four wickets as New Zealand restricted Bangladesh to a modest 236 for 9 despite skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto's 77. The bowling performance from Michael Bracewell was impactful, accounting for Tanzid Hasan (24), Mushfiqur Rahim (2), Mahmudullah (4), and Bangladesh's last match centurion Towhid Hridoy (7) to return with figures of 10-0-26-4.

The following are the match scores:

• New Zealand: 240/5 (46.1 overs)
• Bangladesh: 236/9 (50 overs)

The tournament schedule is as follows:

1. India vs New Zealand (Group A)
2. Bangladesh vs Pakistan (Group A)

The current team rankings are:

• India: 4 points
• New Zealand: 4 points
• Bangladesh: 0 points
• Pakistan: 0 points

The results of the matches have significant implications for the teams, with India and New Zealand advancing to the semi-finals, while Bangladesh and Pakistan are eliminated from the competition.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has been an exciting tournament so far, with several teams competing for a spot in the semi-finals. The competition is expected to intensify in the coming days, with the top teams battling it out for a place in the finals. The tournament has witnessed some impressive performances from players, including Rachin Ravindra's century and Michael Bracewell's bowling performance. The fans are eagerly waiting to see which teams will emerge victorious in the end.

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