Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan played a splendid 224-run partnership to race Bangladesh to a notable five-wicket victory over New Zealand, who has been knocked out of the Champions Trophy on Friday.
While chasing a target of 266 to win the Group A game, Bangladesh fell to 33 for four as Kiwi seamers Tim Southee, Trent Boult, and Adam Milne made the new ball swing.
Opener Tamim Iqbal, who had scored 128 and 95 in his two previous innings, was stuck lbw for nil by Southee in the first over.
The 28-year-old Southee ran through the Bangladesh top order, dismissing Soumya Sarkar (3), and Sabbir Rahman (8) before Milne removed Mushfiqur Rahim for 14.
But Mahmudullah and Shakib produced a vintage batting display, keeping the required run rate under control as they put together the first 200-run stand for Bangladesh in one-day internationals.
Shakib reached his hundred with a massive six in the 46th over before Boult removed him for 114 and Mahmudullah finished on 102 not out to guide Bangladesh home with 16 balls top spare.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to bat after the match was delayed by an hour due to rain.
Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed made an early breakthrough when Luke Ronchi gave a catch to mid-on with 46 runs on the board.
Williamson (57) and Ross Taylor added 83 runs for the third wicket before the skipper was run out after being sent back attempting to sneak a quick a single.
Ahmed returned to the attack to dismiss Taylor who made 63 off 82 deliveries.
Part-time off-spinner Mosaddek Hossain stunned the Kiwi middle-order, removing Neil Broom (36), Jimmy Neesham (23), and Corey Anderson, who was trapped lbw for a first-ball duck. New Zealand managed just 62 runs in the final 10 overs, the lowest tally by any team in the this year’s tournament.
Bangladesh moved up to second in the standings and will qualify for the semi-finals if Group A leaders England beat third-placed Australia on Saturday.
Talking to media after the match Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza said that he believes his side can face the future with renewed confidence even if they are denied a semifinal place at the Champions Trophy.
“That will be nice (if England win), but we can´t just expect Australia to lose that game,” Mortaza told reporters.
“I would like to say the best of luck to both teams, because whatever we could do we did.
“That is most important for us.”
The paceman added: “Obviously, I would like to go to the semis and if we do we will hopefully play better cricket than in the last three matches.
“We have to wait now, but in the last three years we keep improving a lot.
“This sort of performance really helps us to move forward, especially with the 2019 World Cup (in England) coming up. It will really boost the team.”
