New Zealand and Bangladesh go into Monday’s Champions Trophy fixture with contrasting fortunes. While New Zealand will probably be hoping to hold its momentum going and guarantee a spot within the semifinals, for Bangladesh, which went down to India within the opener, it is going to be about returning to profitable methods and staying within the hunt.
With the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium probably to support the batters, with a little bit of assist for quick bowlers early on, New Zealand will financial institution on Tom Latham and Will Young, who scored centuries within the marketing campaign starter against Pakistan to get going, whereas there’s no readability over the supply of Rachin Ravindra, who was struck by the ball on his brow in the course of the tri-series earlier this month.
Having crushed Pakistan at residence earlier within the week and remaining unbeaten within the tri-series, New Zealand is a assured unit, and with sufficient depth in batting, it is going to be beginning as a favorite.
Boom or bust
However, it’s a struggle for survival for Bangladesh. Despite Towhid Hridoy scoring a century against India, not one of the prime batters may present resilience and against a bowling division led by Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke and captain Mitchell Santner, it is going to be a problem for the Bangladesh batters to rise to the event.
Mahmudullah Riyad, who missed out against India with a hamstring niggle, is probably going to return, bolstering the staff’s batting unit. However, it is going to be vital for the top-order to hearth in a must-win outing. In phrases of bowling, Bangladesh had an honest outing against India with Taskin Ahmed, Rishad Hossain and Mehidy Hasan Miraz placing up a spirited present. But it might be fascinating to see whether or not the staff administration unleashes younger quick bowler Nahid Rana on the New Zealand batters. The Kiwis haven’t performed Rana earlier than, so he may usher in a shock factor.
Match begins at 2.30 p.m. IST.
Published – February 24, 2025 06:23 pm IST
