"It would be a different challenge" - Mitchell Santner scared ahead of India clash in CT 2025

In the 6th match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Mitchell Santner-led New Zealand National Cricket Team took on the Najmul Hossain Shanto-led Bangladesh National Cricket Team on Monday, February 24.

At the Rawalpindi Cricket Team, Mitchell Santner's New Zealand National Cricket Team crushed the Bangladesh National Cricket Team by 5 wickets to book their place in the semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Also Read: Rachin Ravindra achieves what even Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar couldn't, creates history with CT 2025 ton

Rachin Ravindra and Michael Bracewell help New Zealand beat Bangladesh

Winning the toss and opting to bowl first in the match, New Zealand restricted Bangladesh to a low score of 236/9. Michael Bracewell dominated with the ball in the match as he picked up a 4-wicket haul for 26 runs in his 10 overs.

Will O'Rourke also picked two wickets, while Matt Henry and Kylie Jamieson picked up one wicket each. For Bangladesh, Najmul Hossain Shanto was the top performer as he slammed 77 runs.

Chasing the target, Will Young and Kane Williamson got out early, but a partnership between Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway shifted the momentum towards the Black Caps.

Then, Rachin Ravindra went on to slam a sensational century while Tom Latham hit a brilliant fifty to all but seal the game for the Kiwis. In the end, Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell provided the finishing touches, and the run-chase was completed in 46.1 overs.

Rachin loves ICC events - Mitchell Santner

Speaking after the match, the New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner lauded Bracewell for his quality bowling performance and added that Rachin Ravindra loves playing ICC events.

Mitchell Santner further said that they are looking forward to their last group-stage match against India in Dubai.

"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," Mitchell Santner said.

"Little bit of dew but not as much I thought. Rachin loves ICC events. Seemed he never left the geame. The partnership with Tom set us up. It would be a different challenge versus India on a different wicket."

How did New Zealand perform in their previous ODI vs Bangladesh?

New Zealand had a nightmare outing in their previous ODI match against Bangladesh in Napier on December 23, 2023. They registered their lowest-ever total against the Bangladesh Team and suffered a huge 9-wicket defeat.

Notably, New Zealand had won the first two matches of the series comprehensively, but they were completely outplayed in all departments in the last game.

Batting first, New Zealand struggled right from the start as Tanzim Hasan Sakib removed both Rachin Ravindra and Henry Nicholls early.

Will Young and Tom Latham tried to stabilize the innings with a small 36-run stand, but once Latham was bowled by Shoriful Islam, things got off the track.

The middle order had no answers to Bangladesh's pace attack, and wickets kept falling at regular intervals. New Zealand were eventually bowled out for just 98 in 31.4 overs, which was their lowest ODI total against Bangladesh.

With such a low total to defend, New Zealand bowlers were already under tremendous pressure and they struggled to make an impact. Anamul Haque and Najmul Hossain Shanto comfortably guided Bangladesh to victory in just 15.1 overs, with Will O’Rourke being the only one to pick a wicket as he dismissed Anamul for 37.