Bangladesh vs New Zealand Prediction and Betting Tips: 6th Match, Group A, ICC Champions Trophy 2025

The Bangladesh vs New Zealand match is part of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, a prestigious ODI tournament held from February 19 to March 9, 2025, in Pakistan and the UAE. This is the 6th match of Group A, featuring Bangladesh, India, New Zealand, and Pakistan. Both teams have played one match each before this, with New Zealand winning against Pakistan and Bangladesh losing to India.

Team Analysis

• Bangladesh: Key players include Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Taskin Ahmed. They lost their opening match to India, showing struggles against top teams.
• New Zealand: Led by Mitchell Santner, with stars like Kane Williamson, Tom Latham, and Tim Southee. They started with a win against Pakistan, showcasing strong form.

Head-to-Head and Prediction

New Zealand has a dominant head-to-head record, winning 33 of 45 ODIs against Bangladesh. Given their recent win and balanced team, New Zealand is predicted to win this match.

Betting Tips

Based on the analysis, consider betting on New Zealand to win, their opening partnership (Latham and Conway) for the highest score, Kane Williamson as top batsman, and Tim Southee as top bowler.

Surprising Detail: Pitch Favoring Batsmen

The Rawalpindi pitch is surprisingly batting-friendly, with an average first innings score of 252, potentially leading to a high-scoring game.

Comprehensive Analysis of Bangladesh vs New Zealand

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 marks the return of this prestigious ODI tournament after an eight-year hiatus, scheduled from February 19 to March 9, 2025, across Pakistan and the UAE. The match between Bangladesh and New Zealand, labeled as the 6th Match of Group A, is set for February 24, 2025, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Pakistan. This article provides a detailed analysis, including team performances, head-to-head records, pitch conditions, and betting insights, to offer a comprehensive guide for fans and bettors.

Tournament Context

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 features eight teams divided into two groups. Group A includes Bangladesh, India, New Zealand, and Pakistan, while Group B comprises Afghanistan, Australia, England, and South Africa. Each team plays three group-stage matches, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals. The tournament opener was on February 19, with Pakistan facing New Zealand, and by February 24, several matches would have shaped the group standings.

As of February 22, 2025, the current standings in Group A, based on the results of the first matches, are:

• New Zealand: 1 win (vs Pakistan), 0 losses, 2 points.
• India: 1 win (vs Bangladesh), 0 losses, 2 points.
• Pakistan: 0 wins, 1 loss (vs New Zealand), 0 points.
• Bangladesh: 0 wins, 1 loss (vs India), 0 points.

The match on February 23, 2025, between India and Pakistan will further influence the group dynamics, but for this analysis, we focus on the information available as of February 22.

Team Analysis

Bangladesh

Bangladesh, known as the Tigers, entered the tournament with hopes of improving their record in ICC events. Their squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 includes key players such as:

• Shakib Al Hasan: A veteran all-rounder with significant experience.
• Mushfiqur Rahim: A reliable wicketkeeper-batsman.
• Mehidy Hasan Miraz: An emerging all-rounder, also the vice-captain.
• Taskin Ahmed: A key fast bowler.

Recent performances show Bangladesh lost to India on February 20, 2025, by 6 wickets, with Shubman Gill’s century leading India’s chase. This loss highlights their struggles against top-tier teams, a trend seen in their historical ODI record against New Zealand. There are no reported injuries or suspensions for key players, suggesting they are at full strength for this match.

Historically, Bangladesh has shown improvement in limited-overs cricket, reaching the quarter-finals of the 2015 World Cup and semi-finals of the 2017 Champions Trophy. However, their recent form, particularly in ODIs, has been inconsistent, with losses in their last series against strong teams.

New Zealand

New Zealand, nicknamed the Black Caps, come into this match with momentum after defeating Pakistan by 60 runs on February 19, 2025. Their squad is a blend of experience and youth, led by Mitchell Santner, with notable players including:

• Kane Williamson: A world-class batsman with over 7,500 ODI runs.
• Tom Latham: A solid opener and wicketkeeper.
• Devon Conway: Another strong batsman at the top order.
• Tim Southee: A veteran fast bowler with a wealth of experience.
• Mitchell Santner: The captain and a key spin-bowling all-rounder.

New Zealand’s recent form is impressive, having won their opening match with centuries from Will Young and Tom Latham. Their squad also includes emerging talents like Will O’Rourke, Ben Sears, and Nathan Smith, making their debut in a senior ICC event. There are no significant injury concerns reported, with key players fit and ready.

New Zealand’s history in ICC events is strong, having reached the semi-finals or beyond in four of their last five tournaments, including winning the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy. Their consistency in ODIs, especially against teams like Bangladesh, positions them as favorites.

Head-to-Head Record

The head-to-head record in ODIs between Bangladesh and New Zealand is heavily skewed in favor of New Zealand. According to EspnCricinfo, they have faced each other 45 times, with New Zealand winning 33 matches, Bangladesh winning 11, and 1 match ending without a result. This dominance is evident across various conditions, with New Zealand particularly strong in away games.

In recent encounters, New Zealand has won 4 of the last 5 ODIs, further solidifying their advantage. This historical data suggests that New Zealand has a psychological and statistical edge going into this match.

Pitch and Weather Conditions

The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, established in 1992, is known for its batting-friendly pitch in ODIs. According to Cricbuzz, the average first innings score in ODIs is 252, with the second innings averaging 221. The pitch offers good bounce and pace early on, assisting fast bowlers, but settles down to favor batsmen as the game progresses. Spinners can get some turn later, particularly under lights, but it’s generally a high-scoring venue.

Weather in Rawalpindi for February is typically cool, with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 22°C, and occasional rain. Given the forecast for February 24, 2025, is not precisely available, historical data from Weather Crave suggests partly cloudy conditions with a low chance of rain, ensuring a full match is likely.

Match Prediction

Based on the analysis, New Zealand is favored to win. Their recent form, with a convincing victory over Pakistan, and their historical dominance over Bangladesh (33 wins in 45 ODIs) give them a clear advantage. The batting-friendly pitch at Rawalpindi suits New Zealand’s strong top order, including Kane Williamson, Tom Latham, and Devon Conway, who can capitalize on the conditions. Bangladesh, despite having players like Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim, has shown vulnerabilities against top teams, as seen in their loss to India.

The prediction is that New Zealand will win, likely by a margin of 50-70 runs if batting first, or by chasing down a target comfortably if batting second, given their balanced attack and fielding prowess.

Betting Tips

Given the prediction and analysis, here are some betting suggestions, based on typical odds and player performances:

• Match Winner: New Zealand, given their form and head-to-head record.
• Highest Opening Partnership: New Zealand (Tom Latham and Devon Conway), with an average opening stand of around 50 runs in recent matches.
• Top Batsman: Kane Williamson, with his consistent scoring ability and past performances at similar venues.
• Top Bowler: Tim Southee, expected to take early wickets with his experience and pace.

These bets are based on the assumption of a high-scoring game, with New Zealand’s key players likely to shine. Bettors should check current odds at platforms like EspnCricinfo for the latest updates.

Detailed Statistics and Records

To provide a deeper insight, here are some relevant statistics for both teams at similar venues:

This table highlights New Zealand’s superior recent form and scoring ability, reinforcing the prediction.

Conclusion

The Bangladesh vs New Zealand match on February 24, 2025, is poised to be a competitive encounter, but New Zealand’s current form, historical dominance, and balanced squad make them the favorites. Fans can expect a high-scoring game at Rawalpindi, with New Zealand likely to secure another win. Bettors should consider the suggested tips, keeping an eye on player performances and pitch conditions for potential value bets.

This analysis provides a comprehensive overview, ensuring fans and bettors are well-informed for this crucial Group A clash in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.