Champions Trophy: Essential Insights for New Zealand vs Bangladesh Showdown
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Synopsis
On February 24, New Zealand aims to secure their spot in the Champions Trophy semifinals against Bangladesh at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. With Bangladesh needing a win to stay in contention, both teams face critical challenges in this Group A clash.
Key Takeaways
- New Zealand seeks to solidify their semifinal position.
- Bangladesh must win to avoid elimination.
- Key players include Najmul Hossain Shanto and Matt Henry.
- Historic rivalry favors New Zealand.
- The match takes place at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Rawalpindi, Feb 23 (NationPress) A determined New Zealand squad aims to solidify their place in the semifinals of the Champions Trophy when they face Bangladesh in a pivotal Group A match on Monday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
The Black Caps commenced their journey with an impressive 60-run victory over host nation Pakistan. With a robust net run rate of 1.200, a subsequent win will almost guarantee their advancement to the knockout rounds.
For Bangladesh, the situation is straightforward—win or face elimination. Led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, they encountered a six-wicket loss to India in their opening match and currently sit third in the group with a net run rate of -0.408. Another defeat would severely diminish their chances of progression.
New Zealand enters this match with a stable squad but is faced with a challenging selection dilemma regarding the potential return of Rachin Ravindra following a head injury. In his absence, Will Young partnered with Devon Conway at the top and made a compelling case for retention with a remarkable century against Pakistan.
It would be tough to drop Young now, especially considering his skill at managing spin, which could be vital against Bangladesh’s bowling unit. Meanwhile, Conway seems to be rediscovering his form, making the opening partnership a key conversation for the Black Caps management.
Aside from that, New Zealand is likely to field an unchanged XI, with their bowling line-up—led by Matt Henry and Mitchell Santner—showing excellent rhythm.
Conversely, Bangladesh must produce a strong batting display to keep their hopes alive. They struggled in their initial match against India, collapsing to 49/5 before a brilliant 154-run partnership between Jaker Ali and Towhid Hridoy rescued them from complete disaster.
The top order, including Tanzid Hasan and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, must rise to the occasion against a disciplined New Zealand attack. Their bowlers have shown promise, but were left with insufficient runs to defend previously. Fielding also remains a worry, as Bangladesh cannot afford any lapses against a well-prepared Kiwi side.
In their history, Bangladesh has achieved only 11 wins in 45 ODIs against New Zealand, while the Black Caps have triumphed in 33 matches. One match concluded without a result.
The Tigers have managed just two ODI series victories over New Zealand, both achieved on home soil in 2010 and 2013.
Nevertheless, Bangladesh clinched victory in their last Champions Trophy match against New Zealand during the 2017 edition. Overall, the head-to-head record in the tournament stands at 1-1.
New Zealand has historically been dominant in this fixture, but Bangladesh can draw confidence from their famous win in the 2017 Champions Trophy, where they eliminated the Black Caps from the tournament. A similar upset is crucial for them to keep their semifinal ambitions alive.
When: February 24, Monday
Where: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
Time: The match is set to commence at 2:30 pm IST, with the toss scheduled for 2 pm.
Broadcast details: The match will be aired on Star Sports Network.
Live Streaming: Watch the match live on JioHotstar.
Squads:
Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, MD Mahmud Ullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana.
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Jacob Duffy.
