Cricket is more than just a game in many parts of the world—it’s a passion, a way to bring people together, and sometimes, a rollercoaster of emotions. On February 24, 2025, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Pakistan, the Bangladesh National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard in a crucial Group A match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. This wasn’t just any game; it was a high-stakes clash where a win for New Zealand would secure their spot in the semifinals, while Bangladesh needed a victory to keep their hopes alive. Let’s dive into the action, break down the scorecard, and relive the moments that made this match unforgettable.
The Build-Up to the Bangladesh National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
Before we get to the nitty-gritty of the scorecard, let’s set the scene. Bangladesh, led by captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, came into this game under pressure. After a tough loss to India in their previous match, they needed to pull off something special to stay in the tournament. New Zealand, on the other hand, was riding high after a convincing win over Pakistan. With players like Rachin Ravindra and Tom Latham in top form, the Kiwis were favorites, but Bangladesh has a history of surprising stronger teams, especially in big tournaments like the Champions Trophy.
The Rawalpindi pitch looked like a batsman’s paradise, with a few cracks suggesting it might help the bowlers later. Experts, including Matthew Hayden, called it a “belter” of a pitch, meaning it was great for batting but could offer some challenges under the lights. New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl first, hoping to take advantage of any early swing and set a chaseable target. Bangladesh, though, was ready to fight, with their fans cheering loudly, hoping for a repeat of their famous 2017 Champions Trophy win over New Zealand.
Bangladesh’s Batting: A Tale of Grit and Missed Chances
Bangladesh’s innings started with openers Tanzid Hasan and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto walking out to face New Zealand’s pace attack, led by Matt Henry. The Kiwis struck early, and the match quickly became a test of Bangladesh’s resilience. Let’s look at how their batting lineup performed:
Bangladesh National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
|
Player |
Dismissal |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tanzid Hasan |
c Conway b Henry |
16 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 94.12 |
|
Najmul Hossain Shanto (c) |
c Latham b Bracewell |
77 | 105 | 8 | 1 | 73.33 |
|
Mehidy Hasan Miraz |
c Phillips b Bracewell |
17 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 70.83 |
|
Towhid Hridoy |
c Ravindra b Bracewell |
13 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 52.00 |
|
Mushfiqur Rahim (wk) |
b O’Rourke |
10 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 55.56 |
|
Mahmudullah |
c Santner b Jamieson |
7 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 58.33 |
|
Jaker Ali |
c Latham b O’Rourke |
45 | 58 | 4 | 1 | 77.59 |
|
Rishad Hossain |
c Conway b Bracewell |
22 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 104.76 |
|
Taskin Ahmed |
c Phillips b Henry |
8 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 |
|
Nahid Rana |
not out |
5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 83.33 |
|
Mustafizur Rahman |
not out |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
|
Extras |
(lb 4, w 7, nb 1) |
12 | ||||
|
Total |
236/9 (50 overs) |
Fall of Wickets: 45/1 (Tanzid Hasan, 8.2), 64/2 (Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 11.6), 97/3 (Towhid Hridoy, 20.3), 106/4 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 22.5), 118/5 (Mahmudullah, 26.1), 163/6 (Najmul Hossain Shanto, 37.2), 196/7 (Rishad Hossain, 43.1), 231/8 (Jaker Ali, 48.1), 236/9 (Taskin Ahmed, 49.2)
Bangladesh’s innings got off to a shaky start. Tanzid Hasan looked promising, hitting four boundaries, but he fell to Matt Henry in the 9th over, caught by Devon Conway. The early loss put pressure on the middle order, but captain Shanto stepped up. His 77 runs off 105 balls, including eight fours and a six, was the backbone of the innings. He played with patience, picking gaps and keeping the scoreboard moving, but just when it looked like he’d carry his bat, Michael Bracewell got him caught by Tom Latham.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Towhid Hridoy couldn’t convert their starts, falling to Bracewell’s clever spin. Mushfiqur Rahim, usually a reliable batter, was bowled by William O’Rourke for just 10. Mahmudullah’s quick exit added to Bangladesh’s woes, leaving them at 118/5. It was Jaker Ali who brought some fight, scoring a gritty 45 off 58 balls, with a four and a six, giving the innings some respectability. Rishad Hossain chipped in with a quick 22, including a big six, but Bangladesh’s total of 236/9 in 50 overs felt below par on a pitch where 270-300 was considered a good score.
New Zealand’s bowlers, especially Michael Bracewell, were the stars. Bracewell’s four wickets, including Shanto and Hridoy, turned the game in their favor. Matt Henry and William O’Rourke each took two wickets, while Kyle Jamieson chipped in with one. The Kiwis bowled tightly, keeping Bangladesh’s run rate below 5 an over, which showed their discipline and ability to adapt to the pitch.
New Zealand’s Chase: Ravindra’s Day in the Sun
Chasing 237 wasn’t going to be easy, especially with Bangladesh’s pace attack led by Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman. But New Zealand had their eyes on the semifinals, and their batting lineup was ready to step up. Here’s how they fared:
Bangladesh National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
|
Player |
Dismissal |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Will Young |
b Taskin Ahmed |
0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Devon Conway |
c Shanto b Nahid Rana |
30 | 45 | 4 | 0 | 66.67 |
|
Kane Williamson |
c Mushfiqur b Mustafizur Rahman |
8 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 66.67 |
|
Rachin Ravindra |
c Parvez Hossain Emon b Rishad Hossain |
112 | 102 | 12 | 2 | 109.80 |
|
Tom Latham (wk) |
c Jaker Ali b Taskin Ahmed |
55 | 72 | 5 | 0 | 76.39 |
|
Glenn Phillips |
not out |
12 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 100.00 |
|
Michael Bracewell |
not out |
10 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 125.00 |
|
Extras |
(lb 2, w 4) |
6 | ||||
|
Total |
237/5 (41.4 overs) |
Fall of Wickets: 0/1 (Will Young, 0.6), 15/2 (Kane Williamson, 3.3), 72/3 (Devon Conway, 15.4), 201/4 (Rachin Ravindra, 38.2), 214/5 (Tom Latham, 41.4)
New Zealand’s chase got off to a rocky start. Taskin Ahmed struck in the very first over, bowling Will Young for a duck—a massive blow, as Young had been in great form. Kane Williamson, one of the best batters in the world, also fell early, caught by Mushfiqur Rahim off Mustafizur Rahman. At 15/2, Bangladesh sensed a chance, and the crowd at Rawalpindi was buzzing.
Enter Rachin Ravindra. The young all-rounder played an innings for the ages, scoring 112 runs off 102 balls, including 12 fours and 2 sixes. His century was a mix of elegance and aggression, with shots all around the park. He found boundaries with ease, sweeping spinners and driving pacers, and reached his hundred in just 95 balls—a Champions Trophy debut to remember. Tom Latham played the perfect supporting role, scoring 55 off 72 balls, and their century partnership (100+ runs) took the game away from Bangladesh.
Despite a dropped catch by Mahmudullah when Ravindra was in his 90s, Bangladesh couldn’t stop the Kiwi onslaught. Ravindra finally fell to Rishad Hossain, caught by Parvez Hossain Emon, but by then, New Zealand needed just 36 runs. Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell finished the job, guiding New Zealand to 237/5 in 41.4 overs, winning by five wickets with plenty of overs to spare.
Bangladesh’s bowlers tried hard. Taskin Ahmed was fiery, taking 2 wickets, while Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman, and Rishad Hossain each picked up one. But the modest target and Ravindra’s brilliance meant New Zealand were always in control.
Key Moments That Defined the Bangladesh National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
-
Taskin’s Early Strike: Taskin Ahmed’s first-over dismissal of Will Young set the tone for Bangladesh’s fight. It gave them hope and showed their bowling could trouble New Zealand’s top order.
-
Shanto’s Fighting 77: Najmul Hossain Shanto’s 77 was a captain’s knock, holding Bangladesh’s innings together when wickets were falling. His ability to anchor and attack kept his team in the game.
-
Bracewell’s Four-Wicket Haul: Michael Bracewell’s 4/38 was a game-changer. His spin broke Bangladesh’s middle order, ensuring they couldn’t post a big total.
-
Ravindra’s Century: Rachin Ravindra’s 112 was the match-defining performance. His composure under pressure and ability to find gaps made the chase look easy.
-
The Century Partnership: Ravindra and Latham’s 100+ run stand for the fourth wicket crushed Bangladesh’s hopes, turning a tricky chase into a comfortable one.
What This Means for Bangladesh National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
New Zealand’s five-wicket win secured their place in the semifinals alongside India, knocking out both Bangladesh and hosts Pakistan from the tournament. For the Kiwis, this was a statement of intent. With players like Ravindra stepping up and Bracewell contributing with both ball and bat, they looked like a team ready to challenge for the title. Captain Mitchell Santner praised his team’s ability to adapt, especially Bracewell’s clever bowling and Ravindra’s match-winning knock.
For Bangladesh, the loss was heartbreaking. Despite Shanto’s leadership and Jaker Ali’s late fight, their batting struggled to find rhythm. The team showed flashes of brilliance, but as coach Shane Bond pointed out, their batting needs more consistency to compete with top teams. Still, players like Towhid Hridoy, who scored a century against India earlier, and young pacer Nahid Rana showed that Bangladesh has talent for the future.
Looking Back at History Bangladesh National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
This wasn’t the first time Bangladesh National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard have locked horns in the Champions Trophy. In 2017, Bangladesh pulled off a famous comeback win over the Kiwis, a victory that remains one of their greatest in cricket history. New Zealand, however, has dominated recent head-to-heads, winning four of the last five encounters before this match. This game added another chapter to their rivalry, with New Zealand proving too strong on the day.
Why This Bangladesh National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard Matters
Cricket is all about moments—moments that inspire, moments that break hearts, and moments that stay with fans forever. This match had it all: early drama, a captain’s fight, a young star’s century, and a clinical chase. For fans of both teams, it was a reminder of why we love this game. Bangladesh showed they can compete, even if the result didn’t go their way. New Zealand showed they’re a force to be reckoned with, ready to take on the best in the semifinals.
