🏏Champions Trophy 2025: BD vs NZ, 6th Match, Group A🏏 - Page 38

MArman: "I've been following Bangladesh cricket since I was 10 years old, and now at 31, I can't help but feel disappointed by the lack of significant improvement. Many teams, like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies, have had their ups and downs, but they've won trophies. Bangladesh, on the other hand, has never reached its peak, even for a short period. Despite having a relatively strong cricket infrastructure and more resources than many other nations, the team's progress remains stagnant."

Bangladesh (and Pakistan) have been eliminated from CT 2025 by a clinical New Zealand performance tonight on a tricky pitch. The morning talk from the experts promised a belter, but Bangladesh found it tough as did New Zealand at times. Michael Bracewell's four-for hypnotised Bangladesh in the middle overs after which Rachin Ravindra removed any hope of an upset with his century. At 15 for 2, NZ were in a spot of bother while chasing 237, but Ravindra's partnerships with Conway and Latham just took the game away. Latham, like he often does, played a terrific role as second fiddle, and Conway played an important role with Young and Williamson falling cheaply.Bangladesh will rue two things: their batters falling to some audacious shots and their average fielding effort. They now will play a consolation match against Pakistan next.

Michael Bracewell is the POTM for his 4 for 26: "Awesome to contribute to a win. Main focus today was to win and get the semi-final spot. (His lessons from bowling in the tri-series) Just keeping the stumps in play. If you give width, guys can score freely. The breeze across was like the conditions at home. Our side is pretty well balanced. I'm geared up to bowl ten overs every game even at Eden Park, but sometimes you don't. I was hoping not to get the pad on to bat but it's always nice to go out there and finish the game. Rachin just goes from strength to strength in ICC events and that's good to see."

The winner of the New Zealand v India fixture on Sunday in Dubai will finish as Group A table toppers and face the second-placed Group B team in the semi-final

Najmul Hossain Shanto: We started well today. We lost too many wickets in the middle overs. We didn't bat properly. Was a good wicket to bat on. We needed two big partnerships. Nahid is brilliant. I am happy the way he bowled. The last two years the bowling unit has done well. I think the game vs Pakistan is an important game. Would be good to finish on a high. We need to improve as a batting and fielding side.

Bangladesh lacked depth in batting. They never scored enough in both the games. Had batting collapses and that never allowed them to score above par in both the games. Their bowling never had enough to play with. 40-50 runs in both the games would have meant they would have been very competitive. Their dependence on Rahim and Mahmudullah didn't bear many fruits here. Maybe time to look beyond them now. Shakib was left out for this tourney and so was Litton Das. But nothing much has changed for them. The Bangladesh unit will play their final game against Pakistan and will hope they will be able to open their account.

Mitchell Santner: We knew Bangladesh will challenge us in these conditions. Bracewell is a quality bowler. He changed his pace. The key was to pick wickets in the middle overs. The wicket was more two paced than I thought. Little bit of dew but not as much I thought. Rachin loves ICC events. Seemed he never left the game. The partnership with Tom set us up. It would be a different challenge versus India on a different wicket.

Visiting teams with most consecutive wins in Pakistan

7 - India (2006-2008)

6 - Sri Lanka (1995-1997)

6* - New Zealand (2023-2025)

New Zealand have had 12 century stands in the Champions Trophy, Tom Latham has been involved in three of them (all this edition), the joint-most alongside Nathan Astle.

Highest partnerships for NZ in Champions Trophy

163 - Nathan Astle & Scott Styris vs USA, The Oval, 2004

136* - Nathan Astle & Craig McCmillan vs USA, The Oval, 2004

135 - Nathan Astle & Roger Twose vs PAK, Nairobi, 2000

129 - Tom Latham & Rachin Ravindra vs BAN, Rawalpindi, 2025