New Zealand will look to book their place in the semifinals of the ICC Champions Trophy when they face Bangladesh in a crucial Group A clash at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday.
The Black Caps come into the contest brimming with confidence after a commanding 60-run victory over hosts Pakistan. With a net run rate of 1.200, another win would virtually seal their passage to the knockout stage.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, face a must-win situation. Their campaign started with a six-wicket defeat to India, leaving them third in the group with a net run rate of -0.408. Another loss would all but end their chances of progressing further.
We know Bangladesh are a very good side. We've played them a lot in the past, and here in Pindi, it's usually a pretty good wicket. So we know they can be quite destructive. We've got to focus on them, but also on ourselves — things we want to get out of the game and the things we've been doing well.
One of the biggest talking points for New Zealand is the possible return of Rachin Ravindra from injury. His absence saw Will Young step up with a brilliant century against Pakistan, making selection a tricky call. With Rawalpindi traditionally offering good bounce, Young’s ability to counter spin could prove vital against Bangladesh’s attack. Devon Conway, too, seems to be rediscovering form, making the opening combination a key discussion point.
Kyle Jamieson, who last played international cricket a year ago, has also joined the squad in Rawalpindi and was seen training. Jamieson, who returns to the squad after a ten months out with a stress fracture of the back, is the replacement for the injuried Lockie Ferguson.
Santner is wary of Rawalpindi’s conditions, which could favour batsmen.
It might be a high-scoring ground; it might not. But generally, it’s pretty good. I think the bowling unit's job is to restrict as best we can. It might not be a 200 wicket; it might be that 300 is a good score to try and chase. We’re quite good at adapting and being planned — that’s what we need to do.
Bangladesh’s batting will be under scrutiny after their struggles against India, where they were reduced to 49/5 before Jaker Ali and Towhid Hridoy salvaged their innings. The top order, including Tanzid Hasan and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, must deliver against a disciplined New Zealand attack.
They’ve always had the spin department covered, but now they’ve got some very good quick bowlers coming through. Taskin (Ahmed) has done it for a long time, and we know how good (Mustafizur Rahman) Fizz can be. So we know what to expect.
Bangladesh will also miss the experience of Shakib Al Hasan, but Santner remains focused on his own squad’s strengths.
At different stages of every game, different guys have stepped up, which is probably the most pleasing thing. The lead-in we had with the Tri-Nation Series was good for the guys to get time in the middle. That will give us confidence heading into this game.
New Zealand hold a strong head-to-head record over Bangladesh in ODIs, winning 33 of their 45 encounters. However, Bangladesh can take heart from their last Champions Trophy meeting in 2017, where they stunned the Black Caps to knock them out of the tournament.
Preparation time has to be enough. That's what the tournament gives us. That's what we are using. Yesterday was a good practice. The Islamabad Club ground has really good facilities. We had a good session. We will have a sharp session today, and we will be ready for tomorrow.
With Bangladesh’s survival on the line and New Zealand eyeing a semifinal berth, the stage is set for a high-stakes encounter in Rawalpindi.
Probables
Bangladesh Playing 11: Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman
New Zealand Playing 11: Devon Conway, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke
