Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana helped Bangladesh get off to a very good start defending a target of just 237. Taskin dismissed Will Young first over to start off with a wicket-maiden and Rana then got the all-important wicket of Kane Williamson two overs later. However, Rachin Ravindra has since steadied the boat, first with a strong stand with Devon Conway and then with Tom Latham. Ravindra has cruised past fifty.

Bangladesh have been restricted to a score of 236/9 by New Zealand and the Kiwis need to chase down a target of 237 to seal a place in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy. Bangladesh could get no momentum into their innings despite the pitch in Rawalpindi apparently being very good for batting. New Zealand, on the other hand, were on the money throughout and hardly let anything go in the field.

Michael Bracewell bowled 10 overs on the trot on a pitch that is doing absolutely nothing for the bowlers and finished with figures of 4/26. He is the first New Zealand spinner to take a four-wicket haul in the Champions Trophy since 2000. Mahmudullah was his fourth wicket while Mushfiqur Rahim was third. They were Bangladesh’s most experienced batters but practically threw their wickets away. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, meanwhile, has hung around at the other end and scored a half-century.

Towhid Hridoy, Bangladesh’s centurion from their first match against India, looked set to do yet another rebuilding job, this time with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto at the other end, but he fell trying a big shot in the 21st over. New Zealand have applied the squeeze on Bangladesh after taking two early wickets.

New Zealand earlier won the toss and chose to bowl first in Rawalpindi. Captain Mitchell Santner announced two changes to the squad – Daryl Mitchell is ill and so Rachin Ravindra returns in his place while Kyle Jamieson also makes a comeback after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with injury.

Currently in good form, New Zealand are one step closer from progressing to the semi-finals of the ongoing 2025 Champions Trophy. The Black Caps began their campaign with a convincing 60-run victory over hosts Pakistan, and now take on Bangladesh in their second fixture. On the other hand, Bangladesh lost to India by six wickets in their opener, and need a win to get their campaign back on track.

If New Zealand win in Rawalpindi on Monday, then their place in the semi-finals will be confirmed, along with Group A opponents India. Bangladesh have been in poor form lately, and their top-order batters Soumya Sarkar and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto were dismissed for ducks against India. They would not have got to 228, if it wasn’t for Jaker Ali’s 68, and he was dropped in the first ball by Rohit Sharma. Meanwhile, Towhid Hridoy got his maiden ODI ton, but will be disappointed that it didn’t result in a win. Meanwhile, Mahmudullah, who missed out the clash vs India due to a hamstring injury, is expected to return to the playing XI.

The Bangladesh team management will also hope for a better performance from their bowling department. Taskin Ahmed, Rishad Hossain and Mehidy Hasan Miraz have failed to dominate, and Nahid Rana hasn’t lived up to his potential.

For the Black Caps, Glenn Phillips will be key, and he perfectly showed it with his sensational catch to dismiss Mohammad Rizwan in the previous fixture. His presence down the order will be crucial as New Zealand will look to accelerate, and he is also handy as an offspinner who can get wickets. Rachin Ravindra was rested against Pakistan, after receiving a forehead injury in the recent tri-series. In his absence, Devon Conway has opened with Young, who got a ton in the previous game. Meanwhile, Conway has registered scores of 97, 48 and 10 as an opener.

The pitch in Rawalpindi is usually batting-friendly, and also provides a little bit of help to pacers (if the ball is new and shiny). Meanwhile, the weather is not expected to play spoilsport, and it will be a cloudy affair.

Here are some pointers to Bangladesh vs New Zealand from the Champions Trophy:

– Rachin Ravindra completed his 4th ODI century off 95 balls.

– Rachin Ravindra got to 51 in 51 balls

– Bangladesh scored 236/9 in 50 overs

– Najmul Hossain Shanto scored 77 in 110 balls

– Michael Bracewell finished his 10 overs with figures of 4/26

– Michael Bracewell got the first wicket for New Zealand with the wicket of Tanzid Hasan

– New Zealand have brought back Rachin Ravindra and Kyle Jamieson, playing his first international in over a year

– New Zealand won the toss and chose to field first