Rachin Ravindra's incredible century and Tom Latham's calm half-century led New Zealand to a dominant five-wicket win over Bangladesh in their Group A match at Rawalpindi Stadium.
The Black Caps chased down the goal with 23 balls left, booking a semifinal spot alongside India. Both Pakistan and Bangladesh have been knocked out of the tournament with this result. New Zealand and India will then face each other on March 2 to decide the group topper.
Ravindra made a statement about his class in a superb 112-run inning, full of 12 fours and one six, as he displayed his strokes of wide scope to take his team to home. His recovery to form was all the more remarkable given he had just healed from an injury incurred while in New Zealand's first match versus Pakistan in the Tri-nation ODI Series leading up to the Champions Trophy.
Playing out a modest 237, Bangladesh began on an optimistic note when Taskin Ahmed removed Will Young in his opening over. Bowling a full and straight delivery which jagged in sharply, sneaking between pad and bat into the stumps, Taskin got rid of Will Young who had been good touch with his century against Pakistan in the very first game.
Young's premature exit was followed by another disappointment when Nahid Rana, in for Tanzid Shakib, took the valuable wicket of Kane Williamson in the fourth over. The young seamer lured the New Zealand captain into a drive, only for the ball to swing just enough to get the edge, neatly pouched by the wicketkeeper. Williamson's absence saw Ravindra take the field earlier than expected, in place of the sick Daryl Mitchell, and he left an instant impact.
Ravindra and Devon Conway steadied the ship, before Conway, who had batted very cleanly, fell for a cheap one to Mustafizur Rahman. The left-hander had tried to maneuver an outside-off ball towards backward point but succeeded only in playing it onto his stumps. Having batted very elegantly, playing a total of six boundaries, Conway was visibly distressed at the circumstances of his demise.
With three of their main batters back in the dressing room, New Zealand required solidity, and that's precisely what Ravindra and Latham delivered. Their vital 129-run stand kept the run chase on course. Ravindra showed a masterclass in placement and timing, successfully finding gaps even as Bangladesh bowlers focused on tight offside lines.
Ravindra's innings was stopped despite his assertive knock as he tried to push the gear after reaching 95-ball hundred. A bang in length Rishad Hossain ball invited a top-edged flick over wide long-on, which he could not clear off, ending his extraordinary innings.
Latham and Glenn Phillips were poised to finish the chase comfortably, but the former got run out in a bid for a quick single. However, Phillips and Michael Bracewell, who had earlier shone with the ball, guided New Zealand home comfortably.
Brief Score:
Bangladesh: 236/9 in 50 overs (Najmul Hossain Shanto 77, Jaker Ali 45; Michael Bracewell 4-26)
New Zealand: 240/5 in 46.1 overs (Rachin Ravindra 112, Tom Latham 55; Taskin Ahmed 1-28, Nahid Rana 1-43)
Result: New Zealand won by five wickets.
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