In a tightly contested match between New Zealand & Bangladesh, both able dark horses of this tournament, the Kiwis, after heavy jitters midway into run chase, finally prevailed by 2 wickets. Both the teams had come into this game, having won their opening matches & brimming with confidence.
Put into bat first, Bangladesh openers Tamim & Soumya started well on a batting friendly Oval pitch, thwarting the aggression of Trent Boult upfront. However, both left after strong starts & then Mushfiqur & Shakib dug deep into building a partnership - things were looking good, when Mushfiqur got run out in a mix up, & with that the hopes of a 300+ score faded away. Shakib got to his second successive fifty, scoring 64 runs, & there were a couple of cameos from batsmen lower down the order, as Bangladesh folded for 244 all out in 49.2 overs. Matt Henry was the wrecker in chief with 4 wickets, while Boult scalped 2, as Santner chocked the scoring with excellent left arm spin bowling. - A steady total, but below par score for this batting pitch.
In reply, the Kiwis started in whirlwind fashion, as Guptill tore into the Bangla attack along with Munro. But both got out after early promise & it was left to veterans Taylor & Williamson to staedy the ship. Williamson, then on just 8 runs had a lucky reprieve, when keeper Mushfiqur made a mess of an easy run out, which would have put Kiwis in serious trouble. Williamson eventually scored 40 & the pair went onto add 105 crucial runs, as the hapless Bangladeshi fielders looked up for redemption. At 160 for 2 after 31 overs & needing just 85 runs to victory, the game looked all wrapped up, when Williamson, lost his cool, underestimated the spin from Mehidy Hasan & holed out an easy catch to deep midwicket. Next man in, Latham got out for a duck in the same over, caught brilliantly, again at deep mid wicket, & suddenly the game had opened up for Bangladesh. Taylor, who had gone past his fifty by then, started to lose his momentum, dabbing hesitantly & patting back simple half volleys, & finally perishing for a well made 82, caught behind to a faint tickle. At 191 for 5 in the 39th over, suddenly the Kiwis batting looked dreadful - as if a cat was let loose amongst pigeons. Saifuddin bowled with renewed vigour along with Hossain, as New Zealand lost three more wickets, inching towards the target. It was finally the cool batting of Santner, with 17not out off 12 deliveries, that took the Kiwis over the line - scraping through a victory by 2 wickets.
It was an evenly contested match, where both the teams had their chances - & also missed chances, which Bangladesh would rue the most, which proved decisive in the final outcome.
The tournament is now surely heating up.....
Put into bat first, Bangladesh openers Tamim & Soumya started well on a batting friendly Oval pitch, thwarting the aggression of Trent Boult upfront. However, both left after strong starts & then Mushfiqur & Shakib dug deep into building a partnership - things were looking good, when Mushfiqur got run out in a mix up, & with that the hopes of a 300+ score faded away. Shakib got to his second successive fifty, scoring 64 runs, & there were a couple of cameos from batsmen lower down the order, as Bangladesh folded for 244 all out in 49.2 overs. Matt Henry was the wrecker in chief with 4 wickets, while Boult scalped 2, as Santner chocked the scoring with excellent left arm spin bowling. - A steady total, but below par score for this batting pitch.
In reply, the Kiwis started in whirlwind fashion, as Guptill tore into the Bangla attack along with Munro. But both got out after early promise & it was left to veterans Taylor & Williamson to staedy the ship. Williamson, then on just 8 runs had a lucky reprieve, when keeper Mushfiqur made a mess of an easy run out, which would have put Kiwis in serious trouble. Williamson eventually scored 40 & the pair went onto add 105 crucial runs, as the hapless Bangladeshi fielders looked up for redemption. At 160 for 2 after 31 overs & needing just 85 runs to victory, the game looked all wrapped up, when Williamson, lost his cool, underestimated the spin from Mehidy Hasan & holed out an easy catch to deep midwicket. Next man in, Latham got out for a duck in the same over, caught brilliantly, again at deep mid wicket, & suddenly the game had opened up for Bangladesh. Taylor, who had gone past his fifty by then, started to lose his momentum, dabbing hesitantly & patting back simple half volleys, & finally perishing for a well made 82, caught behind to a faint tickle. At 191 for 5 in the 39th over, suddenly the Kiwis batting looked dreadful - as if a cat was let loose amongst pigeons. Saifuddin bowled with renewed vigour along with Hossain, as New Zealand lost three more wickets, inching towards the target. It was finally the cool batting of Santner, with 17not out off 12 deliveries, that took the Kiwis over the line - scraping through a victory by 2 wickets.
It was an evenly contested match, where both the teams had their chances - & also missed chances, which Bangladesh would rue the most, which proved decisive in the final outcome.
The tournament is now surely heating up.....
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