Cricket World Cup: Unbeaten New Zealand defeat Bangladesh
- Published
Martin Guptill's highest score of the World Cup so far helped New Zealand beat Bangladesh in Hamilton
World Cup Pool A, Hamilton: |
Bangladesh 288-7 (50 overs): Mahmudullah 128*, Sarkar 51 |
New Zealand 290-7 (48.5 overs): Guptill 105, Taylor 56; Shakib 4-55 |
New Zealand won by three wickets |
New Zealand recorded their sixth successive win at the 2015 World Cup as they beat Bangladesh by three wickets.
Chasing 289 to win, the co-hosts overcame a late collapse to win with seven balls to spare, with Martin Guptill scoring 105, Ross Taylor 56 and Grant Elliott 39.
Bangladesh had posted 288-7 in Hamilton as Mahmudullah made an unbeaten 128, his second century in two matches.
New Zealand, who remain unbeaten, had already secured top spot in Pool A.
The Kiwis, who have lost six World Cup semi-finals, will face Pakistan, Ireland or West Indies in the quarter-finals in Wellington on Saturday, 21 March.
They showed why they are one of the favourites to win the competition with a hard-fought victory after they won the toss.
In a thrilling finish, New Zealand fell from 210-3 to 269-7 as Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan claimed 4-55, but Daniel Vettori and Tim Southee saw the hosts home after a rapid 39 from Corey Anderson.
Defeat means Bangladesh are likely to finish fourth in Pool A, which would mean a quarter-final against Pool B winners India in Melbourne on Thursday, 19 March.
BBC Test Match Special's Ebony Rainford-Brent |
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"Bangladesh did a very good job of keeping themselves in the game, picking up those two wickets early doors opened the game up. But Guptill kept the momentum going, playing risk-free cricket, and there were only small margins in it but New Zealand made it look comfortable." |
Earlier, Trent Boult claimed the wickets of Imrul Kayes and Tamim Iqbal during a hostil opening spell as Bangladesh slipped to 27-2.
Mahmudullah, who was dropped on nought by Guptill and on one by Anderson in the following over, followed up his 103 against England with his highest ODI score.
He was helped by Soumya Sarkar's 51 - his maiden ODI half-century - before Sabbir Rahman hit 40 off 23 balls.
The Kiwis looked in trouble at 33-2 after Shakib dismissed Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson.
However, Guptill, who will play for Derbyshire in this year's County Championship before New Zealand begin their tour of England, put his side in control by hitting 11 fours and two sixes in his 100-ball knock.
Man of the match Guptill said: "We have a lot of belief and the way we are executing our skills is pleasing. We just need to keep that up over the next few weeks."
Shakib said: "It was a tough day. These games will help us improve our confidence and I hope we have a very good game in the quarter-finals."
Listen to highlights from Test Match Special's and 5 live Sport's 2015 World Cup coverage.
Pool A | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | Played | Won | Lost | N/R | R/R | Points | |
Q | New Zealand | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | +2.56 | 12 |
Q | Sri Lanka | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | +0.37 | 8 |
Q | Australia | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | +1.60 | 7 |
Q | Bangladesh | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | +0.14 | 7 |
5 | England | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | -1.0 | 2 |
6 | Afghanistan | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | -1.88 | 2 |
7 | Scotland | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | -1.77 | 0 |
New Zealand's Mitchell McClenaghan, making his first appearance of the World Cup, took 0-68
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum dives unsuccessfully to stop a Bangladesh boundary
Bangladesh's Mahmudullah has made 62, 103 and 128 in his past three World Cup innings
Shakib Al Hasan (right) and Nasir Hossain celebrate the wicket of New Zealand's Brendon McCullum
Martin Guptill suffered cramp while on 99 but recovered to score his sixth one-day international century
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