Caught in time-warp: Bangladesh and Pakistan out of Champions Trophy

In the 12th over of the New Zealand chase, Rachin Ravindra dug out a full ball to short midwicket and took a few steps down the track before turning back. Tanzid Hasan had a shy at the stumps and would have found the batsman out of his ground, but he missed the stumps.

And that was that, not just for Bangladesh’s chances in the ICC Champions Trophy, but also those of Pakistan. Chasing a modest target of 237 on a decent Rawalpindi pitch on Monday, the Kiwis had lost Will Young and Kane Williamson with just 15 runs on the board. Had Tanzid hit the stumps, New Zealand would have been 57/3 with Ravindra back in the pavilion for 25.

As it turned out, Ravindra – returning to the side after a horrific hit to the forehead – hit a classy 112 off 104 balls, replete with 12 fours and a big six – as the Kiwis secured a facile five-wicket win with 23 balls to spare to enter the semifinals, taking India along with them. Sunday’s contest between the two sides will decide the winner of the group.

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The fourth-wicket stand worth 129 between Ravindra and the ever-reliable Tom Latham (55) broke the back of the chase. As the Kiwis approached the target at a rapid rate, the Bangladesh players seemed to lose interest and just went through the motions. Not that the match was lost in the second half. Despite losing three wickets for 72, New Zealand were never under run rate pressure as they adeptly rotated strike while finding boundary options whenever they wanted.

It was apt that both Bangladesh and Pakistan were knocked out together. After losing their early matches, neither team displayed the urgency and desperation in their must-win games. Nothing else can explain off-spinner Michael Bracewell being allowed to bowl 10 straight overs, starting in the first Powerplay, and taking four top-order wickets conceding only 26 runs, on a pitch that hardly offered any turn. The 34-year-old, who had 27 ODI wickets in as many games coming into the match, wouldn’t have believed his luck.

Matches in Pakistan have seen much higher scores than those in Dubai, and 236 was never going to be enough. But Bangladesh’s plan – if there was any – seemed just to play out the overs and hope for a miracle of sorts while bowling, an approach quite similar to the one adopted by Pakistan on Sunday.

What made the tactics employed by Nazmul Hassan Shanto’s team all the more explicable was that – after being reduced to 35/5 by India in their first game – they actually had a decent start with the openers putting on 45 in a little over eight overs. But once they lost a couple of wickets, the innings started regressing. The Bangladesh batsman, most of whom are quite experienced, failed to find the gaps for singles and two, only relying on the occasional big shot, thereby playing right into Kiwi hands.

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No impetus

The 10-over break-ups told the sorry tale of their innings. The Powerplay ended with the score reading a healthy 58/1. The next 10-over segment brought 39 runs for the loss of one wicket, while Bangladesh added only 34 as three batsmen were sent back. Matters hardly improved with overs 31-40 accruing just 41/1 with the score reading 172/6 going into the final 10 overs. Skipper Shanto looked to be keen on batting through the innings as he hardly ever looked to get out of second gear, scoring 77 off 110 balls before going for a big shot and perishing in the 38th over. It was only a few late blows from Jaker Ali (45 off 55) and Rishad Hossain (26 off 25) that got Bangladesh to 236.

For all the passionate support Bangladesh enjoys, the team is way behind the modern style of playing limited-overs cricket. Another major indictment was that despite playing on spin-friendly pitches back home, they seemed clueless against the disciplined-at-best bowling of Bracewell.

As for New Zealand, they once again demonstrated what a well-drilled outfit they are. They invariably find men to do the job in every game. It was Young against Pakistan and Ravindra on Monday. Significantly, both convincing wins were achieved without contributions from Williamson, their best batsman. Even when they lost a few wickets, unlike Bangladesh, they never went into their shell and kept the scoreboard moving.

As for their bowling, they have resources in both pace and spin departments. Bracewell, skipper Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips may not be world-beaters, but know how to get the job done. Matt Henry, William O’Rourke and the returning Kyle Jamieson are effective rather than spectacular. They had conceded a few extra runs in their opening win over Pakistan, but showed definite improvement in that regard as well on Monday. The 45th over bowled by O’Rourke was a maiden.

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New Zealand are a habitual presence at the business end of major tournaments, and recently did the previously-unthinkable by clean-sweeping a Test series in India. Other teams better be wary.

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