Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto played a crucial knock, scoring 50 runs off 71 balls against New Zealand in their Group A clash of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Despite early setbacks, Shanto anchored the innings, ensuring Bangladesh remained competitive.
Match Summary: Bangladesh vs New Zealand
Scorecard (as of 23.2 Overs)
| Team | Score | Overs |
|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | 108/4 | 23.2 |
| New Zealand | Yet to bat | – |
Shanto’s Innings: A Captain’s Knock
Shanto’s fifty was a steady and responsible innings, crafted with patience and precision. He reached his milestone in 23.1 overs, playing a critical role after Bangladesh lost wickets at regular intervals.
Shanto’s Batting Stats
| Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
| 50 | 71 | 8 | 0 | 70.42 |
Key Moments of Shanto’s Knock
- Powerplay Resilience: Shanto ensured a steady start for Bangladesh after the early loss of Tanzid Hasan (24 off 24).
- Handling Spinners: He showed great footwork against Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner.
- Crucial Partnership: Held the innings together after Bangladesh lost wickets in quick succession at 45/1, 64/2, 97/3, and 106/4.
Bowling Attack by New Zealand
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Bracewell | 8 | 24 | 3 | 3.00 |
| William O’Rourke | 6 | 29 | 1 | 4.83 |
| Matt Henry | 4 | 21 | 0 | 5.25 |
| Kyle Jamieson | 4 | 24 | 0 | 6.00 |
| Mitchell Santner | 1.2 | 7 | 0 | 5.25 |
Bracewell was the standout bowler, picking up three key wickets, including that of Mushfiqur Rahim (2 off 5) and Towhid Hridoy (7 off 24).
Shanto’s Fifty: What It Means for Bangladesh
With wickets falling at regular intervals, Najmul Hossain Shanto’s fifty provided much-needed stability to Bangladesh’s innings. His effort ensured the team had a fighting chance against a strong New Zealand bowling attack.
Bangladesh still has work to do, but Shanto’s responsible knock has given them a foundation to build upon. With wickets in hand, Bangladesh will aim for a competitive total to challenge New Zealand in this crucial Champions Trophy encounter.
