Mahmudullah, Shakib Knocked Out New Zealand

Cardiff: Bangladesh, who were 33 for 4 at one stage, ride on centuries from Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah to scripted an epic comeback to chase to 266-run target to knock New Zealand out of Champions Trophy and keep their semi-final hopes alive.

The comeback was scripted by a record stand of 224 runs, highest for Bangladesh for any wicket in ODIs, between Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah. Both scored centuries as their team chased down the 266-run target with five wickets and 16 balls remaining.

Bangladesh will now hope that England beat Australia in the final game of Group A which will knock out Australia and help them qualify for the semis. England have already qualified for the semi-finals.

No one gave Bangladesh a chance to win the game as Tim Southee ran through the top order, picking up three wickets with Bangladesh’s score reading 12. In-form opener Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar and Sabbir Rahman were all back in the hut.

Mushfiqur Rahim was the fourth wicket to fall in the 12th over and Bangladesh were in a mess with just 33 runs on the board. New Zealand were on top of the game. But, they wouldn’t have thought that that was last success they were getting.

Once again, it was Shakib, unarguably the best all-rounder in the world, who showed the path to Bangladesh, scoring his seventh ODI century. Mahmudullah was the other anchor in the case, scoring an unbeaten 102, his third century in ODIs, to take his team home.

Bangladesh bowling was a two-phased. They did well in the death over to contain New Zealand. Bangladesh bowlers gave only 62 runs and picked up four wickets in the final 10 overs of the New Zealand innings.

On a slow and tricky pitch, New Zealand openers Martin Guptill and Luke Ronchi began with a flurry on boundaries in the first five overs. The Black Caps had put up 46 runs after seven overs but Taskin Ahmed removed Ronchi off the first ball of eighth over.

Guptill was going good but he missed one from Rubel Hossain and was leg-before for 33. Ross Taylor joined Kane Williamson in the middle. The two brought stability to New Zealand batting, adding 84 runs for the third wicket. Williamson scored his fifty, after scored of 100 and 87 in his previous two matches. But his innings ended with a mix up. After calling for a single, Williamson set off but Taylor sent him back. Williamson was caught way short of his crease.

Neil Broom added 49 runs with Taylor before the latter was dismissed for 63, caught at short fine-leg. There was no other batsmen who scored freely and even the Bangladesh bowlers did not give enough room.

Mosaddek Hossain picked up three wickets for 13 runs for Bangladesh. He came to bowl only in the 42nd over. Taskin took two wickets while Rubel and Mustafizur picked up one each.

Brief scores
New Zealand - 265 for 8 (Taylor 63, Williamson 57, Mosaddek 3-13)
Bangladesh - 268 for 5 (Shakib 114, Mahmudullah 102*, Southee 3-45)
Result - Bangladesh won by five wickets