NZ beat Bangladesh to reach Champions Trophy semis

ICC Champions Trophy Group A, Rawalpindi

Bangladesh 236-9 (50 overs): Shanto 77 (110); Bracewell 4-26

New Zealand 240-5 (46.1 overs): Ravindra 112 (105), Latham 55 (76)

New Zealand won by 5 wickets

Scorecard

Rachin Ravindra's sublime period helped New Zealand publication their spot successful the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy with a comfy five-wicket triumph implicit Bangladesh successful Rawalpindi.

Ravindra, who missed the Black Caps' opening triumph against Pakistan with concussion, struck 112 from 105 balls to steer his broadside to their humble people of 237 with 3.5 overs to spare.

The pursuit started nervously arsenic opener Will Young was bowled by Taskin Ahmed successful the archetypal over, and Kane Williamson fell for 5 during a lively opening spell from Bangladesh's seamers, but Ravindra and Devon Conway (30) withstood the unit with a calm third-wicket basal of 57.

Ravindra fell with conscionable 36 much runs required aft a concern of 129 with wicketkeeper Tom Latham, who made a important 55, which acceptable up the triumph to destruct some their opponents and hosts Pakistan and to besides guarantee India's qualification from Group A.

Bangladesh were near to rue a wasteful batting innings which saw 8 of the 9 wickets to autumn caught successful the outfield from escaped and unconvincing changeable selection, with skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto's 77 and Jaker Ali's 45 the lone notable contributions.

They reached a dependable 58-1 from the opening 10 overs, but past failed to retrieve from a gaffe from 97-2 to 118-5 arsenic spinner Michael Bracewell tore done the mediate bid with career-best ODI figures of 4-26.

Neither Pakistan nor Bangladesh person peculiarly challenged this well-rounded New Zealand broadside but it was different broad triumph that sees them instrumentality momentum and assurance into the semi-finals.

After a decent start, Bangladesh's innings fell isolated with a whimper arsenic their batters could not accommodate against the nagging accuracy of New Zealand's bowling attack, peculiarly Bracewell's off-spin.

The 34-year-old made the opening breakthrough with Tanzid Hasan caught by Williamson for 24, and from determination bowled 10 overs consecutively portion seldom having to alteration his attack arsenic Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah were each retired slogging aft failing to rotate the onslaught consistently.

Shanto and Ali played sensibly to prevention their broadside from a implicit illness but they lacked enactment from elsewhere to station a competitory full connected a bully surface, portion their bowling onslaught lacked menace aft the caller shot plaything was blunted.

Ravindra made his mode backmost into the XI due to the fact that of unwellness to Daryl Mitchell, and having travel to the crease astatine 15-2, has fixed the New Zealand selectors a headache regarding to however to support him successful the broadside aft a classy innings which included 12 fours and a six.

He made the astir of a captious missed tally retired accidental erstwhile helium lone had 25, followed by drops connected 93 and 105 which were little apt to person influenced the result.

The concern with Latham, who is besides successful good signifier aft his period against Pakistan, was a masterclass successful onslaught rotation and taking calculated risks passim the mediate overs arsenic nary of the bowlers were capable to settee into a spell successful the mode of Bracewell.

New Zealand's last group-stage lucifer against India volition determine who finishes apical of the radical but volition besides supply an absorbing appraisal of however some unbeaten teams volition fare nether existent unit for the archetypal time.

Player of the match, New Zealand's Michael Bracewell: "It's awesome to lend to a win. The main absorption was coming present and getting a triumph and securing a spot successful the adjacent circular and we did that.

"That's the payment of our side, we're beauteous well-balanced truthful I'm acceptable to vessel 10 overs each game."

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto: "I deliberation we started good [but] successful the mediate we mislaid excessively galore wickets.

"It is simply a bully wicket to bat, we needed 2 large partnerships. The mode we batted is truly disappointing."

New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner: "We knew Bangladesh were a pugnacious situation connected this wicket truthful the mode we pulled it backmost successful the mediate with the shot was pleasing and Bracewell was outstanding.

"Rachin looks similar he's ne'er been away. When he's going, he's pugnacious to halt and his concern with Tom [Latham] was great."

Both Bangladesh and Pakistan volition beryllium hoping to extremity their Champions Trophy run with immoderate pridefulness arsenic they play connected Thursday, 27 February, besides successful Rawalpindi.

New Zealand look India connected Sunday, 3 March to determine who finishes apical of Group A.

Australia look South Africa successful Rawalpindi connected Tuesday, which starts astatine 9:00 GMT.

Both teams are eyeing a semi-final spot, having won their opening matches against England and Afghanistan respectively.