New Zealand won their last Group match against Bangladesh by 3 wickets and thus maintained the unbeaten in the ongoing world cup. Bangladesh set the target of 289 runs which Kiwis achieved in the penultimate over of the innings.
Match report: Pool A: 37th Match, New Zealand vs Bangladesh; Hamilton; March 13, 2015.
Opener Martin Guptill shines in the New Zealand’s 3 wickets victory against Bangladesh. He hit a fighting century and guided co-hosts of the tournament to their sixth consecutive victory over an inspired Bangladesh in Hamilton on Friday.
As both of the teams already have secured their places in the quarter-finals, it was supposed to be not a much watch-out game but Bangladeshi players made it so through their performance.
It was a rare feat to see Black Caps struggling to achieve a target of 289 runs against a not so highly ranked team. Guptill hit 105 runs, his sixth ODI century, and led his team to the victory.
Bangladesh unconventionally opened the attack with slow bowlers and attacked with spin from both ends. It helped Bangladesh as they caught New Zealand’s key wickets of Brendon McCullum (8) and Kane Williamson (1) and left Kiwis with 33-2. Shakib Al Hasan, the left-arm spinner, took both the early wickets.
But after that 131 runs third wicket stand between Guptill and Ross Taylor (56) put New Zealand back on winning track. Guptill hit 11 boundaries and two sixes during his 100-ball knock before Shakib got him out.
Ross Taylor hit a half-century and added another 46 with Grant Elliott (39). Bangladesh then took three wickets in the space of just 37 runs and it seemed that New Zealand is going to face their first defeat in the tournament.
But still they had Corey Anderson and he as expected hit boundaries after boundaries and scored 39 off 26 balls and when he departed Kiwis were some 20 runs short of target. It was compensated by Tim Southee who hit a six and a four to seal New Zealand’s victory.
Black Caps finally got succeeded in breaking their 5-years long losing streak against Bangladesh as they had lost to them 7 consecutive matches before this victory. Shakib, Bangladesh’s stand in captain finished with 4-55 and had almost derailed Kiwis quest.
Mohammad Mahmudullah was the hero from Bangladesh side with his impressive 128 not out, his second consecutive ton in the tournament and thus propelled Bangladesh to 288-7 in their 50 overs. He also became the only second Bangladeshi batsman to score back-to-back hundreds in ODI’s. Shahriar Nafees was the first one who achieved the feat against Zimbabwe at home in 2006.
Earlier Bangladesh when started batting struggled in front of Trent Boult who left them with 27-2. Mahmudullah who was dropped on one by Anderson, then anchored the innings with his 90-runs partnership with Soumya Sarkar. Sarkar departed shortly after scoring his half-century. After him Mahmudullah also added valuable 78 runs on sixth with Sabbir Rahman who made a fiery 23-ball 40.
Bangladesh scored 103 runs in last 10 overs and it’s the only fifth time they had scored more than 100 runs during this phase of an ODI innings.
Mahmudullah in his 128* knock; hit 12 fours and three sixes. Kiwis’ bowlers were tested for the first time in the tournament and they struggled infront of Bangladeshi batsmen and thus concede 288 runs, their biggest conceded total so far in the tournament while Southee went wicketless.
Guptill's knock overshadowed Muhammad Mahmudullah’s performance and was named player of the match for his timely performance.
New Zealand has remained unbeaten till now in the tournament and is leading the Pool A of ICC World Cup 2015 with 12 points. Kiwis will face the fourth-placed finishers from Pool B in the fourth quarter-final in Wellington on March 21. Whereas whom Kiwis will face is still not clear as Pakistan, Ireland and West Indies, all are alive in the race to Quarter Finals.
Whereas Bangladesh who will play quarter final of the tournament first time, finished the group stage at No 4 with 7 points and it will face defending champions India in the second quarter-final in Melbourne on March 19.
Scorecard:
New Zealand 289 for 7 (Guptill 105, Shakib 4-55) vs Bangladesh 288 for 7 (Mahmudullah 128*, Soumya 51).
Player of the Match: MJ Guptill (New Zealand)
Disappointment of the Day: Tim Southee (New Zealand)