As it happened | New Zealand beat Bangladesh by 2 wickets

New Zealand win by 2 wickets

New Zealand defeated Bangladesh by two wickets in the Match 9 of Cricket World Cup 2019 on Wednesday at The Oval. 

After winning the toss, New Zealand invited Bangladesh to bat first. The Kiwis bowled tightly and fielded with high intensity to restrict the opposition to a modest total of 244 all out. 

While chasing the target, New Zealand reached the set target in the 48th over. 

Shakib Al Hasan top-scored for Bangladesh with 64 and several batsmen made starts but they lost wickets at regular intervals and were never able to dominate a disciplined bowling attack.

Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar shared an opening partnership of 45 before Sarkar was bowled by Matt Henry for 25 and Tamim skied a simple catch to mid-wicket off Lockie Ferguson for 24.

Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahman added 50 for the third wicket but the stand ended when Mushfiqur was run out for 19 following a mix-up with his partner.

Shakib reached his fifty off 54 balls before he edged medium-pacer Colin de Grandhomme to wicketkeeper Tom Latham and

Mohammad Mithun, on 26, was caught by De Grandhomme at fine leg off a short ball from Henry.

Needing to accelerate to get close to 300, a par score on the usual batting-friendly Oval wicket, Bangladesh boundaries were in short supply and Mahmudullah departed for 20.

Mohammad Saifuddin struck the only six of the innings in the 45th over but it was a rare joyful moment for the boisterous Bangladesh fans and Henry bowled him for 29 with the second ball of the final over to end the innings.

Both teams won their opening matches of the tournament, New Zealand crushing Sri Lanka by 10 wickets and Bangladesh upsetting South Africa by 21 runs.

47th Over

What a dramatic game this has become.

New Zealand are literally not getting this easily. 

9 runs from the over, including one wicket.

Wicket!

Matt Henry departs after scoring 6 runs. 

Bangladesh is not in a mood to give up.

They are fighting. 

Next batsman is Lockie Ferguson. 

46th Over

Mustafizur comes back into the attack.

8 runs from the over.

45th Over

7 runs from the over from 1 boundary and three singles. 

Saifuddin's sixth over of his spell. 

Mosaddek Hossain gets another wicket!

Neesham out after scoring 25 runs. 

Next batsman is Matt Henry.

New Zealand are 220/7 after 44 overs. 

Wicket!

Colin de Grandhomme out, New Zealand are 218/6 after 43 overs.

Saifuddin takes the wicket. 

De Grandhomme scored 15 runs. 

New Zealand cross 200-run mark.

They are 200/5 after 40 overs.

Ross Taylor out!

After scoring 82 runs, Taylor departs. 

Mosaddek Hossain gets the wicket. 

Colin de Grandhomme is the man at the crease. 

New Zealand are 193/5 after 39 overs. 

Ross Taylor has been brilliant so far, New Zealand are 187/4 after 37 overs. 

One more wicket!

Mehidy Hasan strikes again and gets another wicket. 

Latham departs on duck. 

James Neesham is the next batsman. 

New Zealand 162/4 after 32 overs. 

Wicket!

Kane Williamson out.

He scored 40 runs off 72. 

Mehidy Hasan to Kane Williamson, caught out by Mosaddek Hossain. 

Next batsman is Tom Latham. 

New Zealand are 150/2 after 28 overs. 

NZ are 116/2 after 22 over. 

Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson have build a strong partnership. 

After 17 overs, NZ are 90/2. 

Time for drinks break.

While chasing the target, New Zealand lose two crucial wickets. 

Martin Guptill, Colin Munro have departed. 

Now, New Zealand are 82/2 after 15 overs. 

Martin Guptill and Colin Munro have started the chase.

NZ are 35/0 after 5 overs. 

Innings report:

Paceman Matt Henry grabbed four wickets as New Zealand bowled Bangladesh out for 244. 

Henry finished with figures of 4-47 to follow his three wickets against Sri Lanka as Bangladesh -- sent in to bat -- lost their last six wickets for just 65 runs.

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan hit a fighting 68-ball 64 with seven boundaries in his 200th one-day international but no other batsmen cashed in on good starts.

Once Shakib was caught by wicketkeeper Tom Latham off the bowling of Colin de Grandhomme in the 31st over, the innings fell apart. 

Mohammad Mitun (26), Mahmudullah (20) and Mosadeek Hossain (11) all failed to build a significant innings.

Tailender Mohammad Saifuddin hit a 23-ball 29 with a six and three boundaries before Henry and Trent Boult (2-44) mopped up the tail.

Earlier, openers Tamim Iqbal, who made 24, and Soumya Sarkar, who scored 25, gave Bangladesh a solid base, putting on 45 runs for the first wicket.

But Henry made the breakthrough for New Zealand, bowling Sarkar in the ninth over.

That brought Shakib to the crease, much to the appreciation of a large contingent of Bangladeshi supporters.

Iqbal was out shortly afterwards, caught by Boult off the bowling of Lockie Ferguson, to leave Bangladesh 60-2.

Mushfiqur Rahim rebuilt the innings with Shakib, putting on exactly 50 for the third wicket before he was run out for 19.

Both New Zealand and Bangladesh won their first matches at the World Cup, taking place in England and Wales.

New Zealand crushed Sri Lanka by 10 wickets at Cardiff while Bangladesh beat South Africa.

Mehidy Hasan gone!

After scoring 7 runs he departs. 

Mortaza are is the next batsman. 

Mosaddek Hossain out!

He scored 11 off 22. 

Boult takes the wicket. 

Next batsman is Mehidy Hasan. 

One more wicket!

Mithun out...

Matt Henry to Mithun, caught out by Colin de Grandhomme. 

He scored 26 runs. 

Next batsman is Mosaddek Hossain. 

BAN are 182/5 after 38 overs. 

Shakib Al Hasan out!

Colin de Grandhomme gets the breakthrough and a good catch by Tom Latham.

Shakib scored 64 runs off 68 balls. 

Mahmudullah is the next batsman. 

Bangladesh are 130/3 after 27 overs. 

Mushfiqur Rahim run out!

It's a massive wicket for New Zealand here. 

Rahim scored 19 off 35. 

After 24 overs, BAN are 110/3. 

Bangladesh are 82/2 after 20 overs.

Shakib Al Hasan(18) and Mushfiqur Rahim(12) are at the crease.

New Zealand in control!

Bangladesh are 74/2 after 18 overs.

Bangladesh are 66/2 after 16 overs.

New Zealand bowlers are doing a good job of keeping the run-rate in control.

Tamim gone!

Lockie Ferguson strikes.

Bangladesh lose both their openers.

Tamim made 24 off 38 balls before being caught by Boult.

Matt Henry has been the pick of the bowlers sor far!

He's bowled 6 overs for 32 runs and picked up a wicket.

Bangladesh are 59/1 after 13 overs.

First wicket gone!

Soumya Sarkar bowled by Matt Henry for 25.

Shakib, who's playing his 200th match comes in to bat at number 3.

Bangladesh openers manage to regain some control, after slow first 3 overs.

They are 24/0 after 6 overs.

Kiwi bowlers are yet to strike!

Its a slow start for Bangladesh. 

After 3 overs, Bangladesh are 9/0. 

Bangladesh openers Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar are at the crease.

Matt Henry will open the attack for  New Zealand.

The National Anthems of both the teams have concluded!

Match is set to start in a couple of minutes!

Toss:

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl first against Bangladesh. 

Playing XI: 

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), 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(w), James Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult

Guptill said:

"I guess you want to build that momentum early. If we bowl first in the next few games we can hopefully continue to do that and make it difficult for the guys to score," Guptill said.

"Then if we can come out and play with a bit of freedom like we did this afternoon with the bat, I think we'll have a pretty successful tournament," Guptill added.

Shakib said:

"Building up to this World Cup, we knew what challenges we might face. We prepared well, so that gave us a lot of confidence and belief. We came to this World Cup wanting to do well," he said. 

"We are up for the challenge but at the same time we are relaxed. We knew we had the skill to beat big teams. 

"I think that we are in a good place, mentally. I think if we can continue in this manner, we can go a long way in the tournament." 

Conditions: 

Good cloud coverage is expected which should give seam bowlers something to look forward to on a surface that otherwise favours batsmen. 

Squad:

Bangladesh: 

Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah Riyad, Shakib Al Hasan (vc), Mohammad Mithun (wk), Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Jayed

New Zealand: 

Kane Williamson (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (wk), Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee (vc), Ross Taylor

Head-to-head: 

New Zealand and Bangladesh have faced each other 4 times at the World Cup. 

New Zealand has won all four games. 

Bangladesh has lost in the 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015 World Cup clashes. 

Preview: 

Both the teams are coming into this clash with a win in hand in their respective opening games.

Bangladesh put up their highest one-day international total of 330 for six and restricted South Africa to 309-8, winning the match by 21 runs.

New Zealand showed against Sri Lanka that they are a well-rounded team more than capable of going a long way in the tournament. 

Matt Henry took three wickets in Sri Lanka's 136 all out, while openers Colin Munro and Martin Guptill knocked off the 137 required in just 16.1 overs. 

Shakib has the experience of upsetting the Black Caps after inspiring their five-wicket win over New Zealand in the 2017 Champions Trophy with the most recent of his seven ODI hundreds.

Hello! And welcome to the Match 9 of the Cricket World Cup 2019 which is between New Zealand and Bangladesh at The Oval. 

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