Bowlers up their game

When New Zealand came out to bat after winning the toss and raced to 46 for no loss in just seven overs, it looked like the Back Caps were heading for a big total. They were scoring freely despite the fact that Mustafizur Rahman was opening the attack with skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.

The young left-arm pacer, who struggled with his line and length, went for 19 runs in his first two overs before being replaced by Taskin Ahmed, one of the two changes in the Bangladesh line up. And in those seven overs Mashrafe bowled a maiden. The Kiwi opening pair of Martin Guptill and Luke Ronchi were at ease with Guptill looking menacing, hitting Mashrafe for a massive six over mid-off.

But since then the Tigers' bowling staged a dramatic turn-around with Taskin and Rubel Hossain bowling beautifully. Taskin made the breakthrough when he had Ronchi caught by Mustafizur at mid-on for 16. Bowling with searing pace, Rubel then dismissed the dangerous Guptill for 33. Beaten by the pace, Guptill was adjudged leg-before.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor scored half centuries. The pair added 81 runs for the third wicket before Williamson was run out. It was a good throw by Mosaddek form fine leg that had a backtracking Williamson well out of his crease before Shakib Al Hassan dislodged the bails. Shakib bowled intelligently in the middle overs. He might have conceded 52 runs in his 10 overs bowled without any break, but the figures hardly demonstrate how well he bowled. He conceded only three fours in that long spell.

Mosaddek Hossain's off-spin was the surprise package that yielded three crucial wickets in the death overs and restricted New Zealand to what seemed a manageable total. PHOTO: AFP

New Zealand scored their first 50 off as many deliveries, second fifty off 60 balls, their third 50 came off 70 balls and their 200 came in the 39th over. They could score only 65 runs in the last ten overs. And it showed how well Bangladesh bowled as the innings progressed.

The bowling unit looked more menacing in the last ten overs of Powerplay when Rubel, Mashrafe and Mustafizur put them under a tight leash. The introduction of Mosaddek Hossain in the 44th over proved to be master-stroke from Mashrafe. The young off-spinner, who was the second change in the team, took two wickets in his first over. After being rooted in the crease for quite some time Neil Broom charged down the wicket but miscued an attempted pull shot and was caught by Tamim Iqbal at point for 36. He also had a hard-hitting Corey Anderson for a second-ball-duck in the same over. James Neesham came down the wicket in his next over and was smartly stumped by Mushfiqur Rahim. Mosaddek finished with 3-13 in his three overs. Rubel and Mustafizur also bowled well in the death overs. It was a good all-round bowling performance on a responsive wicket and against a team which is very good in these conditions.

Playing his first match in the tournament, Taskin bowled his heart out and finished with figures of 2-43 in 8 overs. Mustafizur took one wicket and Mashrafe, although wicketless, was the most economical among the four pacers with 10-1-45-0.