New Zealand survived plenty of anxious moments in the ninth match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 against a valiant Bangladeshi side at The Oval in London on Wednesday. But they eventually chased down Bangladesh's 244 to register two wins in two matches.
Man of the match Ross Taylor played a brilliant knock of 82 from 91 balls to keep a rather fragile looking New Zealand batting line-up. The veteran was also involved in a century-stand with skipper Kane Williamson, who survived a messy run-out attempt early in the chase.
For Bangladesh, the world's top-ranked all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan showed his class with both and ball, first scoring an innings high 64 off 68 then dismissing both the Kiwi openers.
But it the end, a pinch of good luck and Kiwi tenacity helped the finalists from the last edition of World Cup win the match in the last over with ever reliable Mitchell Santner hitting the winning runs, a four through cover.
Earlier in the day, hot favourites India inflicted South Africa their third defeat, with Rohit Sharma starring with the bat after bowlers restricted the Proteas to 227/9 at Rose Bowl in Southampton.
1:41 AM IST: Mitchell Santner picks up a four, through cover, and New Zealand win by two wickets. Unlucky, Mustafizur Rahman.
1:40 AM IST: Mohammad Saifuddin on with his seventh over. Mitchell Santner plays the first ball through cover. A double. Then, a single to fine leg. And what a delivery. Low full toss, hits the timber. Saifuddin yorks Matt Henry (6 off 8). FoW-238/8 (46.3 overs). Another twist? Lockie Ferguson is the new man and he misses another yorker. Nearly a wicket. Another dot and a wide, too short. Another wide, down leg this time. Outside edge and four. Scores leveled. One required. NZ-244/8.
1:33 AM IST: Mustafizur Rahman finally gets another go. He still has four overs. Mitchell Santner plays the first ball to deep backward point for an easy double. A single, and close in fielders for Matt Henry. Packed off side field, including a slip fielder. Mashrafe Mortaza has his thinking cap on. But a half-volley, and Henry creams it through cover. A dot, then a wide, wide of off. Eight runs from the over. NZ-235/7 after 46 overs. They need 10 from 24 balls.
1:27 AM IST: Mohammad Saifuddin on with his sixth over. Two singles and huge shout for LBW to Mitchell Santner. Paul Reiffel, dead-accurate. Then a streaky four to third man, fine edge. Seven runs from the over. NZ-227/7 after 45 overs. They need 18 from 30 balls.
01:22 AM IST: Mosaddek Hossain sends James Neesham back (25 off 33), caught at long-off by Soumya Sarkar. FoW-218/7 (43.3). Matt Henry is the new man. Two runs from the wicket. Kiwis need 25 runs from 36 balls.
01:17 AM IST: New Zealand having an element of luck, it seems. In the previous over, a top-edge landing in no man's land, then an inside edge going for a four off the first ball. Mohammad Saifuddin on with his fifth over. He's known to have deadly yorkers in his repertoire. But none coming. Then, a stunning take from Mushfiqur Rahim to send back Colin de Grandhomme (15 off 13). The Kiwi batsman tried to play it over the wicketkeeper, probably thinking to the small stature of Rahim. But what a take. FoW-NZ 218/6 (42.5). Mitchell Santner is the new man. Six runs from the over. Kiwis need 27 from 42 balls.
01:11 AM IST: Mustafizur Rahman returns for his sixth over. A dot to James Neesham, then a four, to deep extra cover. A dot then a wide, down the leg. A single to third man. A top-edge, ball ballooning over the mid-wicket fielder for a single. Seven runs from the over. NZ-212/5 after 42 overs. They need 33 from 48 balls.
01:06 AM IST: Final power-play on. Shakib Al Hasan on with his final over. Bangladesh need wickets. Close in fielders for their strike bowler. Colin de Grandhomme plays the first ball to backward point for a double. A single off the third, then a wide. One more single and a dot to end his spell. Five runs from it. His figures: 2/47. NZ-205/5 after 41 overs.
01:01 AM IST: Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza comes back into the attack. A not ball for overstepping, and a four off the free-hit, by Colin de Grandhomme. Still seven runs from the over. NZ-200/5 after 40 overs. They need 45 runs from 60 balls.
12:55 AM IST: Ross Taylor (82 off 91) walks. First wicket for Mosaddek Hossain. Wicket to Caught behind. Brilliant take down the leg by Mushfiqur Rahim, making up for his previous mistake. #NZ-191/5 (38.3). Colin de Grandhomme is the new man. Two runs from the over. NZ-193/5 after 39 overs. They need 52 from 66 balls.
12:50 AM IST: Mehidy Hasan completes his spell. Four runs from his last over, two singles and a double. His figures: 10-0-47-2. NZ-191/4 after 38 overs. Kiwis need another 54 balls from 72 balls.
12:48 AM IST: Ten runs from Mosaddek Hossain's sixth over as James Neesham and Ross Taylor hit a four each, off the third and fifth balls respectively. NZ-187/4 after 37 overs. They need 58 runs.
12:44 AM IST: James Neesham is not here to drag it. He hits Mehidy Hasan for a six off the first ball, over long on. Eight runs from the over. NZ-177/4 after 36 overs.
12:41 AM IST: Five runs from Mosaddek Hossain's fifth over. NZ-169/4 after 35 overs.
12:37 AM IST: James Neesham survived a very close run-out chance, off the last ball of the over. Bangladesh players were euphoric. But just, not their day. Mehidy Hasan conceded a single. NZ-165/4 after 34 overs.
12:30 AM IST: Brilliant over from Mosaddek Hossain. Just two runs from his fourth over. NZ-164/4 after 33 overs.
12:26 AM IST: What an over for Bangladesh. Game on. Mehidy Hasan removed both Kane Williamson (40 off 72) and new man Tom Latham (0) off the first and last balls. Both the catches taken by Mohammad Saifuddin. Two runs from the over. NZ-162/4 after 32 overs. Drinks
12:18 AM IST: Mohammad Saifuddin continues with his fourth over. Two singles, off the last two balls. NZ-160/2 after 31 overs.
12:15 AM IST: Century-stand for Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor (103 in 120). Five runs from Mehidy Hasan's sixth over. Taylor hit the second ball for a four through extra cover. NZ-158/2 after 30 overs. They need 87 more runs.
12:11 AM IST: Very good over from Mohammad Saifuddin. Just three runs. But Bangladesh need wickets. NZ-153/2 after 29 overs. They need 92 runs.
12:08 AM IST: Shakib Al Hasan on with his penultimate over. Five runs from it. NZ-150.2 after 28 overs.
12:04 AM IST: Mohammad Saifuddin back into the attack. Six runs from his second over. NZ-145/2 after 27 overs. They need exactly 100 runs.
11:59 PM IST: Shakib Al Hasan back. Just one run from it. His figures: 8-0-37-2. NZ-139/2 after 26 overs.
11:55 PM IST: Fifty for Ross Taylor with a four off the fourth ball, bowled by Mustafizur Rahman. Fourth in World Cup. 11 runs from the over. NZ-138/2 after 25 overs. They need 107 runs. Taylor and Kane Williamson added 83 runs in 90 balls.
11:51 PM IST: Mosaddek Hossain continues. Four singles from his third over. NZ-127/2 after 24 overs. They need 118 overs.
11:47 PM IST: Mustafizur Rahman concedes seven runs from his fourth over. Ross Taylor hits the first ball for a four, then three singles. NZ-123/2 after 23 overs.
11:43 PM IST: Another good over for Bangladesh. Mosaddek Hossain leaks four runs from his second over. NZ-116/2 after 22 overs.
11:39 PM IST: Mustafizur Rahman on with his third over. Just two runs. NZ-112/2 after 21 overs.
11:36 PM IST: Bowling change. Mosaddek Hossain, offspinner, on. Four off the first ball, hit by Ross Taylor. NZ-110-/2 after 20 overs.
11:32 PM IST: Mustafizur Rahman returns for his second over. Fours singles from it. 50 partnership in 54 balls for Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor. NZ-105/2 after 19 overs. They need 140 runs.
11:27 PM IST: Big over for New Zealand. 11 runs from Shakib Al Hasan's seventh. Ross Taylor hits the second ball for a four, past cover fielder. NZ-101/2 after 18 overs.
11:20 PM IST: Mehidy Hasan returns. Five runs from it, including a four off the fourth ball, hit by Kane Williamson. Cut with some authority. NZ-90/2 after 17. They need 155 more runs. Drinks.
11:17 PM IST: Shakib Al Hasan continues with his sixth over, on the trot. Three singles off last three balls. NZ-85/2 after 16 overs. They need 160 runs.
11:12 PM IST: Bowling change. Right-arm fast medium pacer Mohammad Saifuddin on. Eight runs from it, including a four off the last ball, hit by Ross Taylor. NZ-82/2 after 15 overs.
11:09 PM IST: Shakib Al Hasan on with his fifth over. Four runs from the over. There was a chance for a run-out at the striker's end off the third ball, but Ross Taylor reached safely. NZ-74/2 after 14 overs. They need 171 runs.
11:05 PM IST Mashrafe Mortaza continues with his fourth over. Three runs from the over, all singles. NZ_70/s after 13 overs. They need 175 runs.
11:01 PM IST: HUGE MOMENT! What an over from Shakib Al Hasan. Kane Williamson, who should be run out by a long-way, got a life thanks to Mushfiqur Rahman's eagerness. The ball was hitting the ball from a throw from Tamim Iqbal, but the wicket-keeper grabbed the ball in front of the wicket and he before that he disturbed the wickets, and needed to uproot the stumps, which he failed to do so. That happened off the second ball. Then, off the fourth ball, Williamson downed his bat in time to avoid a run out at the other end. Seven runs from the over, including a four off the fifth ball, hit by Ross Taylor. NZ-67/2 after 12 overs.
10:54 PM IST: Mashrafe Mortaza, sensing blood, brings himself into the attack. Five runs from his third over, including a four off the fifth ball, hit by new man Ross Taylor through cover. NZ-60/2 after 11 overs. They need 185 more runs.
10:51 PM IST: WICKET! Second for Shakib Al Hasan. He had Colin Munro (24 off 34) caught at mid-wicket by Mehidy Hasan. Great catch. FoW-55/2 (9.6). Two runs from the over. Ross Taylor is the new man.
10:46 PM IST: Mehidy Hasan continues, and just two singles from his fourth over. NZ-53/1 after nine overs.
10:43 PM IST: Brilliant over from Shakib Al Hasan. Just one run from his second. NZ-51/1 after eight overs.
10:40 PM IST: Mehidy Hasan continues. Seven runs from his third over, including a four off the last ball, hit by Colin Munro. NZ-50/1 after seven overs.
10:37 PM IST: WICKET! Double bowling change. And Shakib Al Hasan strikes first ball. He had Martin Guptill (25 off 14) caught at long-on by Tamim Iqbal. FoW-35/1 (5.1). Kane Williamson is the new ball. Next ball, Colin Munro hits a six over the bowler's head. Then a review for LBW. And negative. Eight runs from the over. NZ-43/1 after six overs. They need 202 more runs.
10:29 PM IST: Bowling change. Mustafizur Rahman, left-arm fast medium pacer, on and five runs from it. Colin Munro hits the third ball for a four. NZ-35/0 after five overs.
10:24 PM IST: Another first ball boundary. Martin Guptill hits Mehidy Hasan for a four past square leg fielder. Five runs from the over. NZ-30/0 after four overs.
10:21 PM IST: Mashrafe Mortaza continues. Two fours off the second and fifth balls, hit by Martin Guptill and Colin Munro respectively. NZ-25/0 after three overs.
10:18 PM IST: Mehidy Hasan shares the new ball with his skipper. Eight runs from the over, including a six off the first ball, hit by Martin Guptill over long-on. NZ-15/0 after two overs.
10:14 PM IST: Four off the first ball, through mid-wicket. Good looking pull shot from Martin Guptill. Seven runs from the first over.
10:10 PM IST: Martin Guptill to take the strike. Colin Munro Guptill's opening partner. Mashrafe Mortaza to bowl the first over.
INNINGS BREAK
9:46 PM IST: All in all, very good work from New Zealand to dismiss Bangladesh for a below-par total.
Matt Henry once again led the attack with four-four (9.2-0-47-4). Trent Boult contributed with two wickets, while Lockie Ferguson, Colin de Grandhomme and Mitchell Santner got one each.
For Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan led with 68-ball 64. His back-to-back fifties in the tournament. Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah and Mahmudullah got starts, but none managed to cross the 30-run mark.
9:40 PM IST: Third and fourth for Matt Henry. Two in two. Mashrafe Mortaza (1 off 2) caught at third man by Trent Boult. Then cleans up Saifuddin Bangladesh 244 all out in 49.2 overs.
9:35 PM IST: Second for Trent Boult. Mehidy Hasan (7 off 9) caught behind. Nice bouncer, targeting the onrushing batsman. FoW-235/8 (48.2 overs). Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza is the new man for Bangladesh. including four leg byes off the fourth ball and a four off the bat of Mohammad Saifuddin. Nine runs from Boult's last over. His figures: 10-0-44-2. BAN-255/8 with one over to go.
9:30 PM IST: Seven runs from Matt Henry's ninth over. Two doubles, two singles, and one leg bye. BAN-235/7 after 48 overs.
9:26 PM IST: Trent Boult gets his first wicket. Mosaddek Hossain (11 off 22) caught by Martin Guptill at long on. FoW-224/7 (46.2). Mehidy Hasan is the new man. Five runs from the over. BAN-228/7 after 47 overs. 250 will be a good total for Bangladesh.
9:21 PM IST: Mohammad Saifuddin starts to open up. Hits Lockie Ferguson for a four off the fifth ball, over mid-wicket. Eight runs from the over. Ferguson's figures: 10-0-40-1. BAN-223/6 after 46 overs.
9:18 PM IST: What an over. Mitchell Santner, on with his last over, thought he had Mohammad Saifuddin. Huge LBW shout, reviewed and returned negative. And next ball, Saifuddin hit the first six of the match, over mid-wicket. And that's the end of Santner's brilliant spell. 10 runs from the over. His figures: 10-1-41-1. BAN-215/6 after 45 overs.
9:12 PM IST: Lockie Ferguson continues with his brilliant bowling. Three runs from it. BAN-205/6 after 44.
9:08 PM IST: What a time to get his first wicket. Mitchell Santner gets the better of Mahmudullah (20 off 41), thanks to a tossed up delivery, which the Bangladesh batsman failed to keep it low. Caught at cover by Kane Williamson. FoW-BAN-197/6 (42.3 overs). New man Mohammad Saifuddin hits the fifth ball for a four, a fumble at the boundary. BAN-202/6 after 43 overs.
9:02 PM IST: This is brilliant stuff from New Zealand. Continues to tie down Bangladesh batsmen with disciplined bowling. No let up from the Kiwis at any stage of this innings. Three runs from Lockie Ferguson's eighth over. BAN-195/5 after 42 overs.
8:59 PM IST: Change on end for Mitchell Santner. On with his eighth over. Four runs, two singles and a double. His figures: 8-1-24-0. BAN-192/5 after 41 overs.
8:56 PM IST: Lockie Ferguson returns for his seventh over. Two singles from it. BAN-188/5 after 40 overs. Final power play coming up. Expect Bangladesh to increase the run rate. It's now or never for them.
8:53 PM IST: Trent Boult continues with his eighth over. Four singles. BAN-186/5 after 39 overs.
8:48 PM IST: Matt Henry gets his second. Mohammad Mithun out (26 off 33). Caught by Colin de Grandhomme at long leg. FoW-179/5 (37.1 overs). Mosaddek Hossain is the new man. Three runs from the over. BAN-182/5 after 38 overs.
8:42 PM IST: Trent Boult continues and Mohammad Mithun gets his third four, off the fifth ball, by guiding to third man boundary. Seven runs from the over. BAN-179/4 after 37 overs.
8:38 PM IST: A very good over for Bangladesh, considering the nature of the play. Six runs, including a four, courtesy a crafty scoop from Mohammad Mithun. Matt Henry's figures so far: 7-0-38-1. BAN-172/4 after 36 overs.
8:34 PM IST: Trent Boult returns for his sixth over. Just two singles, off the second and fourth balls. BAN-166/4 after 35 overs. Boult's figures: 6-0-24-0. And he is not complaining.
8:31 PM IST: This is getting tougher and tougher for Bangladesh. Another three run-over from Mitchell Santner. BAN-164/4 after 34 overs. Tigers will need some roaring to frighten the Kiwis.
8:23 PM IST: Another very good over for New Zealand. Three runs from Colin de Grandhomme's eighth over. BAN-161/4 after 33 overs. 24 runs and a wicket from the last five overs. Drinks.
8:20 PM IST: Mitchell Santner on with his sixth over. Three singles from it as Kiwis continue to apply a stranglehold on Bangladesh. BAN-158/4 after 32 overs.
8:16 PM IST: Colin de Grandhomme gets the prized wicket of Shakib Al Hasan (64 off 68). Caught behind. FoW-BAN-151/4 (30.2 over). Mahmudullah is the new man. Four runs from the over. BAN-155/4 after 31 overs.
8:08 PM IST: Colin de Grandhomme on with his sixth over. Shakib Al Hasan hits the second and fifth balls for fours. 11 runs from the over. BAN-148/3 after 29 overs.
8:04 PM IST: Fifty with a three in 54 balls for Shakib Al Hasan, his fifth in six matches. Mitchell Santner leaked seven runs from his fourth over. BAN-137/3 after 28 overs.
8:00 PM IST: One bad over from Lockie Ferguson. Three wides and a four, off the last ball, hit by Mohammad Mithun through mid-wicket. 10 runs from it. BAN-130/3 after 27 overs.
7:54 PM IST: Mitchell Santner rushing through the overs. Two runs from his third over. BAN-120/3 after 26 overs.
7:51 PM IST: Lockie Ferguson on with his fifth over. Eight runs from it, including a four off the fourth ball, hit by Shakib Al Hasan to fine leg boundary. BAN-118/3 after 25 overs.
7:47 PM IST: Fatal mixed-up. Mushfiqur Rahim run out. Good throw from Martin Guptill from cover and Tom Latham has no issues. Rahim made 19 off 35. Two runs from Mitchell Santner's second over. BAN-110/3 after 24 overs. Mohammad Mithun is the new man.
7:41 PM IST: Jimmy Neesham returns for his second over. Shakib Al Hasan hits the first three balls for fours , then a wide. Then two singles. And a couple to make it a 17-run from the over, biggest of the match. BAN-108/2 after 23 overs.
7:36 PM IST: Another bowling change. Mitchell Santner, left-arm spinner on. A maiden to start with. Mushfiqur Rahim happy to read and exhaust.
7:32 PM IST: Colin de Grandhomme on with his fifth over. Nine runs from it as Mushfiqur Rahim hits the fourth ball for a four with a delicate paddle sweep. BAN-91/2 after 21 overs.
7:29 PM IST: Some runs for a change of Bangladesh. Bowling change. Right-arm medium pacer James Neesham on, and seven runs from it, including a four off the last ball. That's Shakib Al Hasan's first hit to the boundary, to deep mid-wicket. BAN-82/2 after 20 overs.
7:23 PM IST: Bangladesh batsmen are finding it to score runs. A single from the 19th over. Colin de Grandhomme is brilliant. BAN-75/2. 13 runs from the last five overs. Kiwis are probably the best bowling side in this World Cup. Yes, India are there too.
7:20 PM IST: Post Drinks, one quick over from Lockie Ferguson. A wide and a single. BAN-74/2 after 18 overs. Rebuilding period for Bangladesh.
7:13 PM IST: Mushfiqur Rahim hits his first boundary, off the fourth ball of the over. Colin de Grandhomme leaked six runs from the over. BAN-72/2 after 17 overs. Drinks.
7:09 PM IST: Brilliant spell of Lockie Ferguson. Two singles from his third over. His figures so far, 1/5. BAN-66/2 after 16 overs.
7:04 PM IST: Colin de Grandhomme continues. Two singles from his second over. BAN-64/2 after 15 overs.
7:00 PM IST: Another WICKET! Lockie Ferguson gets the wicket of dangerous Tamim Iqbal (24 off 38). Caught at mid-wicket by Trent Boult. A well-directed bouncer doing the damage. FoW-60/2 (13.2 overs). Mushfiqur Rahim is the new man. Three runs from the over. BAN-62/2 after 14 overs.
6:53 PM IST: Double bowling change. Colin de Grandhomme, right-arm fast medium bowler, gets his first over. And a very good one. Three singles off the last three balls. BAN-59/1 after 13 overs.
6:50 PM IST: First bowling change. Kane Williamson introduces Lockie Fergusson, right-arm fast bowler. Just two singles, off the second and fourth balls. BAN-56/1 after 12 overs.
6:45 PM IST: Wicket-take Matt Henry on with his sixth over on the trot. Five runs from it -- a double and three singles off the last four balls. BA-54/1 after 1 overs.
6:41 PM IST: Trent Boult continues, and just three runs from his fifth over. BAN-49/1 after 10 overs.
6:38 PM IST: WICKET! Matt Henry strikes. Soumya Sarkar (25 off 25) gone. Bowled by a beauty. FoW-45/1 (8.3 over). Shakib Al Hasan is the new man. Two runs from the over. BAN-46/1 after nine overs.
6:32 PM IST: Another good over for Bangladesh. Tamim Iqbal hits Trent Boult for a four off the fifth ball, over square leg. Great pull shot. Eight runs from the over. BAN-44/0 after eight overs.
6:28 PM IST: First big over of the match. Soumya Sarkar hits Matt Henry for two fours, off the second and fifth balls. 12 runs from the over. BAN-36/0 after seven overs.
6:23 PM IST: Very good over from Trent Boult. Just two runs, both singles. BAN-24/0 after six overs.
6:20 PM IST: Soumya Sarkar hits his first four of the match, off the third ball of the over, bowled by Matt Henry. A clean strike, one would say, straight down the ground. Seven runs from the over. BAN-22/0 after five overs.
6:17 PM IST: Trent Boult continues. Six runs from his second over. A double off the first ball, through cover, then a four off the fourth, to deep mid-wicket. BAN-15/0 after four overs.
6:12 PM IST: Matt Henry on with his second over. A double off the first ball as Soumya Sarkar plays it to square leg. BAN-9/0 after three overs.
6:08 PM IST: Trent Boult shares the new ball with Matt Henry. Three singles from his first over. NZ-7/0 after two overs.
6:05 PM IST: Four off the third ball as Tamim Iqbal flicks to fine leg boundary.
6:00 PM IST: Tamim Iqbal takes the strike. His opening partner is Soumya Sarkar. Matt Henry opens bowling for New Zealand.
5:45 PM IST: Quick update on head-to-head record:
They have faced each other four times in World Cups with the Kiwis winning all four. That's some record like India-Pakistan head-to-head records. But Bangladesh are different now
5:40 PM IST: Playing XIs
Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Mustafizur Rahman
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), James Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult
5:34 PM IST: New Zealand won the toss and opted to bowl first against Bangladesh.
Both sides are on a high early in this World Cup. New Zealand routed Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in Cardiff while Bangladesh surprised South Africa by 21 runs. Mushfiqur Rahim’s 78 and Shakib Al Hasan’s 75 took Bangladesh to 330/6, their highest ODI total.
New Zealand's opening victory was equally impressive. Their pacers toyed with an under-par Sri Lanka batsmen who managed to score just 136 in seaming conditions. New Zealand won in just 16.1 overs, courtesy half-centuries from openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro.
