Cricket is more than just a game in many parts of the world—it’s a passion, a way of life, and a source of pride. 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 the 6th match of Group A in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. It was a day-night encounter that had fans on the edge of their seats, with New Zealand emerging victorious by 5 wickets, securing their spot in the semifinals. Let’s dive into the details of this exciting match, break down the scorecard, and relive the key moments that shaped the game. Whether you’re a die-hard cricket fan or someone just getting into the sport, this article will walk you through everything in a simple, human tone.
The Stage: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is known for its lively atmosphere and batting-friendly pitches, and this match was no exception. The weather was pleasant, with a temperature of around 18°C, a bit of cloud cover, and a gentle breeze. New Zealand won the toss and chose to field first, a decision that would set the tone for a disciplined bowling performance. For Bangladesh, this was a do-or-die game to keep their semifinal hopes alive, while New Zealand aimed to continue their winning streak in the tournament.
Bangladesh’s Innings: A Gritty but Underwhelming Total
Bangladesh walked out to bat with high hopes, led by their captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto. The team got off to a decent start, with openers Tanzid Hasan and Shanto putting on 45 runs for the first wicket. Tanzid looked confident, scoring a quick 24 off 24 balls, including a boundary and two sixes, before falling to Michael Bracewell in the 8th over. His dismissal came when he chipped a tossed-up delivery to Kane Williamson at midwicket, breaking the opening stand.
Shanto, however, anchored the innings. He played with patience and skill, scoring 77 runs off 110 balls, with nine crisp boundaries. His knock was the backbone of Bangladesh’s total, but the middle order struggled to support him. Mehidy Hasan Miraz contributed 13 runs, but his stay was cut short when he chipped a ball to mid-on off Will O’Rourke. Towhid Hridoy (7), Mushfiqur Rahim (2), and Mahmudullah (4) all fell cheaply to Bracewell’s clever off-spin, which kept the Bangladesh batters under pressure. Bracewell’s figures of 4 wickets for 26 runs in 10 overs were outstanding, earning him the Player of the Match award.
Jaker Ali provided some resistance with a fighting 45 off 55 balls, including three fours and a six. His partnership with Rishad Hossain (26 off 25) added some valuable runs, but Bangladesh kept losing wickets at crucial moments. Rishad’s aggressive knock ended when he was caught at mid-off off Matt Henry, and Jaker was run out in the 48th over. Taskin Ahmed chipped in with 10, but Bangladesh could only manage 236/9 in their 50 overs, thanks to 25 extras (22 wides and 3 leg-byes).
The innings had its moments of brilliance, but Bangladesh’s inability to build big partnerships and the pressure from New Zealand’s bowlers meant they fell short of a competitive total. The pitch wasn’t as tough as their score suggested, and 236 was always going to be a challenging target to defend.
Bangladesh Innings Scorecard
|
Batter |
Dismissal |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tanzid Hasan |
c Williamson b Bracewell |
24 | 24 | 1 | 2 | 100.00 |
|
Najmul Hossain Shanto (c) |
c Bracewell b O’Rourke |
77 | 110 | 9 | 0 | 70.00 |
|
Mehidy Hasan Miraz |
c Santner b O’Rourke |
13 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 92.85 |
|
Towhid Hridoy |
c Williamson b Bracewell |
7 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 29.16 |
|
Mushfiqur Rahim (wk) |
c Ravindra b Bracewell |
2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
|
Mahmudullah |
c O’Rourke b Bracewell |
4 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 28.57 |
|
Jaker Ali |
run out (Latham) |
45 | 55 | 3 | 1 | 81.81 |
|
Rishad Hossain |
c Santner b Henry |
26 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 104.00 |
|
Taskin Ahmed |
c Conway b Jamieson |
10 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 50.00 |
|
Mustafizur Rahman |
not out |
3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 60.00 |
|
Nahid Rana |
not out |
0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Extras |
(lb 3, w 22) |
25 | ||||
|
Total |
(50.0 overs, RR: 4.72) |
236/9 |
Fall of Wickets: 45/1 (8.2), 64/2 (11.6), 97/3 (20.3), 106/4 (22.5), 118/5 (26.1), 163/6 (37.2), 196/7 (43.1), 231/8 (48.1), 236/9 (49.2)
|
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Matt Henry |
9 | 0 | 57 | 1 | 6.33 |
|
Kyle Jamieson |
9 | 1 | 48 | 1 | 5.33 |
|
Michael Bracewell |
10 | 0 | 26 | 4 | 2.60 |
|
Will O’Rourke |
10 | 1 | 48 | 2 | 4.80 |
|
Mitchell Santner |
10 | 1 | 44 | 0 | 4.40 |
|
Glenn Phillips |
2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 5.00 |
New Zealand’s Chase: Ravindra Shines Bright
Chasing 237, New Zealand got off to a rocky start. Taskin Ahmed struck in the very first over, bowling Will Young for a duck with a stunning delivery that nipped through the gap between bat and pad. Kane Williamson, usually a reliable anchor, fell for just 5 to Nahid Rana, who bowled a fiery spell at 145kph+. Williamson’s edge was snapped up by Mushfiqur Rahim behind the stumps, leaving New Zealand at 15/2.
Enter Rachin Ravindra, who turned the game on its head. The 25-year-old, returning from a head injury, played a match-defining knock of 112 off 105 balls, including 12 fours and a six. His century was a masterclass in composure and aggression, earning him praise as one of the brightest stars in modern cricket. Ravindra, alongside Devon Conway (30 off 45), steadied the ship with a 57-run partnership for the third wicket. Conway fell to Mustafizur Rahman’s cutter, chopping on, but Ravindra found a perfect partner in Tom Latham.
Latham, the New Zealand wicketkeeper, played a calm and composed 55 off 76 balls, with three boundaries. Their 129-run stand for the fourth wicket took the game away from Bangladesh. Ravindra reached his hundred in style, becoming the first Kiwi to score four centuries in ICC events. However, he was dismissed for 112 in the 38th over, caught by substitute fielder Parvez Hossain Emon off Rishad Hossain. Latham was run out soon after, but by then, New Zealand were in a commanding position.
Glenn Phillips (21* off 28) and Michael Bracewell (11* off 13) finished the job with ease, sealing the chase in 46.1 overs with a boundary from Bracewell. New Zealand’s victory was clinical, and their depth shone through, with Ravindra’s brilliance and Bracewell’s all-round performance stealing the show.
New Zealand Innings Scorecard
|
Batter |
Dismissal |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Will Young |
b Taskin Ahmed |
0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Devon Conway |
b Mustafizur Rahman |
30 | 45 | 6 | 0 | 66.66 |
|
Kane Williamson |
c Mushfiqur Rahim b Nahid Rana |
5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 125.00 |
|
Rachin Ravindra |
c sub (Parvez Hossain Emon) b Rishad Hossain |
112 | 105 | 12 | 1 | 106.66 |
|
Tom Latham (wk) |
run out (Mahmudullah) |
55 | 76 | 3 | 0 | 72.36 |
|
Glenn Phillips |
not out |
21 | 28 | 2 | 1 | 75.00 |
|
Michael Bracewell |
not out |
11 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 84.61 |
|
Extras |
(b 4, w 2) |
6 | ||||
|
Total |
(46.1 overs, RR: 5.19) |
240/5 |
Did not bat: Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke
Fall of Wickets: 0/1 (0.6), 15/2 (3.3), 72/3 (15.4), 201/4 (38.2), 214/5 (41.4)
|
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Taskin Ahmed |
7 | 2 | 28 | 1 | 4.00 |
|
Nahid Rana |
9 | 0 | 43 | 1 | 4.77 |
|
Mehidy Hasan Miraz |
10 | 0 | 53 | 0 | 5.30 |
|
Mustafizur Rahman |
10 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 4.20 |
|
Rishad Hossain |
9.1 | 0 | 58 | 1 | 6.32 |
|
Najmul Hossain Shanto |
1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 12.00 |
Key Moments and Turning Points
-
Tanzid’s Early Aggression: Bangladesh’s openers set a positive tone, reaching 50 in just 8.6 overs, but Tanzid’s dismissal slowed their momentum.
-
Bracewell’s Bowling Masterclass: Michael Bracewell’s 4/26, including the wickets of Hridoy, Rahim, and Mahmudullah, turned the game in New Zealand’s favor.
-
Shanto’s Lone Fight: Najmul Hossain Shanto’s 77 was a valiant effort, but the lack of support from the middle order hurt Bangladesh.
-
Ravindra’s Century: Rachin Ravindra’s 112 was the standout performance, guiding New Zealand through a tricky chase and securing their semifinal spot.
-
Latham’s Steady Hand: Tom Latham’s 55 complemented Ravindra perfectly, ensuring New Zealand stayed on track.
-
Bangladesh’s Missed Chances: A dropped catch of Ravindra in his 20s and a missed run-out opportunity proved costly for Bangladesh.
What This Means for Bangladesh National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard Both Teams
For New Zealand, this win was a statement. They not only secured their place in the semifinals but also confirmed India’s spot, knocking out both Bangladesh and Pakistan. Ravindra’s form and Bracewell’s all-round brilliance showed that the Black Caps are a well-balanced side, ready to challenge for the title. Captain Mitchell Santner praised his team’s ability to take wickets in the middle overs and highlighted Ravindra’s knack for performing in big ICC events.
For Bangladesh, it was another disappointing group-stage exit. Despite Shanto’s leadership and Nahid Rana’s fiery bowling, the team struggled to post a competitive total and failed to capitalize on early breakthroughs. Shanto expressed disappointment with the middle order but remained optimistic about their final group game against Pakistan, hoping to end the tournament on a high.
The Bigger Picture
This match highlighted the gap between the two teams. New Zealand’s depth and ability to perform under pressure shone through, while Bangladesh’s reliance on a few key players was exposed. The game also showcased the emergence of young stars like Ravindra and Rana, who could shape the future of their respective teams. For fans, it was a reminder of why cricket is so captivating—full of twists, individual brilliance, and moments that can change the course of a match.
Conclusion
The Bangladesh National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard on February 24, 2025, was a tale of two teams with different fortunes. Bangladesh fought hard but couldn’t overcome their batting woes, while New Zealand’s composure and star performances from Ravindra and Bracewell sealed a deserved victory. The scorecards tell the story of a match where every run, wicket, and moment mattered. For cricket lovers of all ages, this game was a perfect blend of drama, skill, and heart.
