Mitchell, Williamson guide New Zealand to eight-wicket win over Bangladesh

Mitchell, Williamson guide New Zealand to eight-wicket win over Bangladesh

Fifties from New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell and skipper Kane Williamson guide the Blackcaps to an eight-wicket win over Bangladesh in their World Cup encounter at the Chepauk in Chennai on Friday.

Mitchell 67–ball 89, and Williamson's 107-ball 77 on his first appearance in this World Cup helped ensure New Zealand register their third win of the tournament to take them to the top of the table. 

Williamson was retired hurt was enduring a throw on his hand while trying to complete a run but Mitchell finished off proceedings with a six off Shoriful Islam in the 43rd over as the Blackcaps chased down Bangladesh's 245 in 42.5.

Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman got an early breakthrough when he dismissed opener Rachin Ravindra in the third over but Williamson and Devon Conway put together an 80-run stand before skipper Shakib Al Hasan trapped the former for 45 in the 21st over.

In the 39th over, Williamson went back to the pavilion as retired hurt after a 108-run partnership with Mitchell, who stepped on the gas after that to get New Zealand home.

Shakib gets Conway, breaks 80-run stand with Williamson 
Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan trapped New Zealand opener Devon Conway lbw in the 21st over to leave the Kiwis at two down for 92 in pursuit of 245 in Chennai today.

Prior to Conway's dismissal, Shakib managed to create another opportunity when New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson clipped it towards short mid-wicket but Taskin Ahmed, who got his hands to the ball after putting in a dive, failed to pocket it.

In his next over, however, Shakib's tight lines paid dividends as Conway, batting on 45 runs off 59 balls, failed to make contact while trying to attempt a reverse sweep.  

His dismissal brought Daryl Mitchell to crease, with Williamson unbeaten on 31 off 52 ball at the other end. 

Fizz gives Tigers first breakthrough  

Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafziur Rahman nicked off New Zealand's in-form batter Rachin Ravindra in their World Cup encounter in Chennai today.

Chasing the Tigers' 245 for nine, Ravindra hit Mustafizur for consecutive fours in the third over of the innings before nicking one to the wicketkeeper.

The left-handed batter, who scored a century against England and then a fifty versus Netherlands, had managed a 13-ball nine at the time of his dismissal leaving the Kiwis at one down for 12.

Batting woes continue as Bangladesh manage 245-9 against New Zealand

Another sorry display with the bat on display at the Chepauk in Chennai today as Bangladesh managed to post 245 for nine on a good surface against New Zealand after being sent into bat first. 

A top-order tumble yet again dented Bangladesh's batting effort as the first four batters were back in the hut for 56 runs within the opening 13 overs of the innings.

Skipper Shakib Al Hasan and veteran Mushfiqur Rahim put a band-aid on the innings with a 96-run stand before Shakib, who managed a 51-ball 40, tried to hit his way out of trouble and in the process threw his wicket away when he looked to pull a quick and short on off Lockie Ferguson.

In the 29th over, Shakib had taken left-arm spinner Rachin Ravindra for 10 runs and in the following over, he had managed to hit pacer Lockie Ferguson for a six after which he skied a quick and short delivery off the pacer, while Mushfiqur was unbeaten on 54 at the other end.

Photo: AFP

Shakib had also been feeling the cramps and it appeared that despite heading towards a favourable position, the left-handed batter tried to hit his way out of trouble.

A hapless Mushfiqur, who played an impressive knock of 66 runs off 75 balls to bring up his 48th ODI fifty, succumbed to an unfortunate end when he was castled by a Matt Henry slower ball that kept surprisingly low on a wicket that delivered decent carry throughout the innings. 

This saw Shakib's side reduced to six down for 175.

Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy remained a loyal follower of the trend that has seen many of the country's in-form players lose form in a major tournament as he failed to make an impression, departing in a soft-dismissal that saw him chip one straight to short extra-over off a knuckle-ball bowled by Trent Boult.

The right-handed batter managed a dismal 25-ball 13 as Bangladesh got reduced to seven down for 180 after the end of the 38th over. This brought in the tail as Taskin Ahmed came to the middle, with Mahmudullah Riyad unbeaten on three at the other end.

Mahmudullah's 49-ball 41 in the latter stage ensured that Bangladesh were able to play the entire 50 overs. 
Ferguson was the pick of the bowlers for the Kiwis as he scalped three wickets for 49 runs, while pace partners Boult and Henry picked up two each.

Soft-dismissal sees the back of Hridoy

Towhid Hridoy failed to make an impression as departed owing to a soft-dismissal that saw him chip one straight to short extra-over off a knuckle-ball bowled by Trent Boult in Chennai today.

The right-handed batter managed a dismal 25-ball 13 as Bangladesh got reduced to seven down for 180 after the end of the 38th over. This brought in the tail as Taskin Ahmed came to the middle, with Mahmudullah Riyad unbeaten on three at the other end.

Hapless Mushfiqur departs after fifty 

Bangladesh batter Mushfiqur Rahim succumbed to a moment of misfortune when he was castled by New Zealand pacer Matt Henry in their World Cup encounter in Chennai today.

Mushfiqur's 48th fifty saw him score 75-ball 66 before Henry's cutter kept surprisingly low as it crashed onto the off-stump leaving Bangladesh six down for 175 after 36 overs.

The right-handed batter in the process helped Bangladesh from a slump that saw them get reduced to 56 for four with a 96-run stand with Shakib but couldn't prolong his knock to take Bangladesh to a favourable position.

Shakib throws it away

Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan threw his wicket away on the brink of a 100-run stand with Mushfiqur Rahim to leave his side five down for 152 in Chennai today.

In the 29th over, Shakib had taken left-arm spinner Rachin Ravindra for 10 runs and in the following over, he had managed to hit pacer Lockie Ferguson for a six after which he skied a quick and short delivery off the pacer, while Mushfiqur was unbeaten on 54 at the other end.

Shakib had also been feeling the cramps and it appeared that despite heading towards a favourable position, the left-handed batter tried to hit his way out of trouble.

His dismissal brought Towhid Hridoy to the crease, with Mahmudullah Riyad next in line in the Bangladesh's batting line-up.

Mushfiqur brings up his 48th fifty

Bangladesh stalwarts Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan are making their experience count against New Zealand in Chennai in their third World Cup fixture today.

Mushfiqur, who also scored a fifty against England in his previous match, reached the landmark with boundary off pacer Lockie Ferguson in the 28th over as he along with the skipper has helped Bangladesh consolidate from a precarious 56 for four. 

The Tigers had managed 132 for four after the end of the 28th over.

Bangladesh have lost Mehedi Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto as well after losing both openers earlier in the innings.

Lockie Ferguson's short-ball strategy against Mehedi Hasan Miraz worked as Miraz went for the pull but could not clear the 59m boundary and instead found Matt Henry, just as Liton did, at fine-leg. Pacey stuff from Lockie as he tested Shakib Al Hasan, in at five, with a bouncer as well to welcome the Tigers' skipper to the crease.

Miraz departed for a 46-ball 30 as another batter departs after managing a start. Glenn Phillips then got the better of Shanto, who departed for seven in another soft dismissal as he chipped it awkwardly with the ball holding off and straightening after pitching. Conway at mid-wicket takes the catch diving forward. Bangladesh 57 for four after 13 overs.

Tanzid's soft dismissal sees Tigers lose both openers

There is good bounce on offer at the surface in Chennai and Bangladesh have recovered well since the first-ball wicket of Liton Das. Both Tanzid Hasan and Miraz have played some good punches down the ground or through cover region to ensure a good start following the wicket of Das.

Tanzid found four boundaries in his 17-ball 16 before he clipped Lockie Ferguson to short-leg for a very soft dismissal. Najmul Hossain has come into the crease as Bangladesh are 41 for 2 after nine overs.

Tigers lose Liton first ball

Bangladesh have lost a wicket in the first ball of the innings as Liton Das fell to Trent Boult.

The ball shaped into Liton slightly and Matt Henry did not have much time to settle down at fine-leg as Liton flicked it to him to depart for a duck. Not at all the start Tigers would have been hoping for. Mehedi Miraz has come in at number three.

Mahmudullah in as Williamson sends Tigers to bat

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and elected to bowl in the World Cup match against Bangladesh today.

When Kane Willamson was injured during an IPL match this year, it seemed like his World Cup dreams were over. Despite missing out on the first two fixtures, which the Kiwis won, Willamson was back in the fold for competitive fixture, attending the toss along with Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk, Chennai today.

He had played the World Cup warm-up fixtures but now it was time for the real deal. He replaced Will Young in the side. "Really good to be back," Williamson said.

The pitch is a little off-centre with a shorter hit to the leg side. Wicket helped the spinners significantly in the first innings during the game between India and Australia at the venue. Sanjay Manjrekar at the toss commented that it was not 'turner' as Bangladesh would have liked it to be and predicted that the surface would be a better one for batting compared to the India-Australia game.

Bangladesh have made one change with Shak Mahedi making way for Mahmudullah Riyad.

"I would be confused [had I won toss] but wouldn't mind batting first. Looks to me like a good wicket and I think ball would come onto the bat nicely. I don't know what would happen after ball get softer but at this moment it looks like a good wicket to bat on," Shakib said at the toss.

Bangladesh XI: Liton Das, Tanzid Tamim, Najmul Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman