Rawalpindi: New Zealand clinched a five-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the crucial Champions Trophy match, securing their place in the semi-finals while officially knocking Pakistan out of the tournament.
The match, played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, saw Bangladesh set a target of 237 runs for New Zealand after batting first. The Kiwi side successfully chased the total with five wickets in hand, sealing their qualification for the semi-finals. This result also confirmed the elimination of defending champions Pakistan from the tournament.
Pakistan had already suffered consecutive defeats against India and New Zealand in the group stage, leaving their semi-final hopes dependent on multiple outcomes. For Pakistan to advance, Bangladesh needed to beat New Zealand by a significant margin, and India also had to secure a dominant victory over the Kiwis. Additionally, Pakistan had to win their final match with a substantial margin. However, as these conditions were not met, both Pakistan and Bangladesh were eliminated, while India and New Zealand progressed to the semi-finals
