New Zealand make short work of Bangladesh

CHENNAI: Last year’s finalist New Zealand came up with a good solid, cold and calculating batting performance to defeat Bangladesh by eight wickets at Chennai’s MA Chiddambaram Stadium in Chepauk Friday to register their third successive win of the 2023 Cricket World Cup.

Leading the way from the front was New Zealand Captain Kane Williamson who scored an impressive half-century on his return to the team after injury. Williamson and Daryl Mitchell put together a third wicket stand of 118 off 109 balls as New Zealand reached their target of 246 with 43 balls to spare.

Williamson missed the first two matches recuperating from a knee injury sustained at the IPL, made a welcome return showing no signs from it, but was forced to retire hurt with his score on 78 with a thumb injury.

New Zealand requiring 46 more at that stage reached their target in style with Mitchell hoicking Shoriful Islam for six over deep midwicket. He finished unbeaten on 89 scored off 67 balls (6 fours, 4 sixes) and with Williamson (78* off 107 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) made the chase quite a comfortable one, after Bangladesh had threatened to make run making difficult at the beginning with some miserly bowling.

New Zealand came up with an exceptional bowling performance to keep Bangladesh down to a total of 245-9. Bangladesh lost Litton Das to a first ball duck and were rescued by seasoned campaigners Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim who figured in a 96-run stand. Shakib battling with heat and cramps scored an unimpressive 40 off 51 balls. Mushfiqur who was the aggressor in the partnership top scored with 66 off 75 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes).

Once the stand was broken by Lockie Ferguson, the innings struggled for momentum. Mahmudullah (41* off 49 balls) tried his best to up the ante, but New Zealand kept things tight with an efficient and clinical performance on the field that saw Bangladesh finish 20-25 runs short of a par score.

The issue for Bangladesh was that they faced 175 dot balls, but ironically they hit the most number of sixes ever (for Bangladesh) in a World Cup game with eight.

Ferguson (3/49) was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers with good support from Trent Boult who took his 200th ODI wicket with the dismissal of Towhid Hridoy, and Matt Henry who together accounted for four scalps. But it was left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner who put the brakes on the Bangladeshi scoring with a miserly performance taking 1/31 off 10 overs. – (ST)

Scores: Bangladesh 245-9 (50) (Mehidy Hasan 30, Shakib Al Hasan 40, Mushfiqur Rahim 66, Mahmudullah 41*, Trent Boult 2/45, Matt Henry 2/58, Lockie Ferguson 3/49)

New Zealand 248-2 (42.5) (Devon Conway 45, Kane Williamson rtd ht 78, Daryl Mitchell 89*)