Watch: New Zealand beat Bangladesh by eight wickets to register their third win in as many games in the 2023 World Cup at the MA Chidambaram Stadium — watch the NZ vs BAN highlights here.
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New Zealand secured an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Bangladesh in Chennai on Friday, led by disciplined fifties from Daryl Mitchell (89*) and Kane Williamson (78*). This win marks New Zealand’s third consecutive triumph in the World Cup, placing them atop the points table with a commendable net run rate of +1.604.
While pursuing a below-par target of 246, New Zealand lost Rachin Ravindra early. Bangladesh’s new-ball duo, Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam, bowled with precision as the first few overs of the second innings saw challenging conditions for batting with the ball swinging under the evening lights. However, the experienced pair of Devon Conway and Williamson adeptly navigated this testing period. As the conditions improved, both batsmen accelerated their scoring rate.
Conway appeared to be on course for a substantial score but a lapse in judgment during a reverse sweep led to his dismissal by Shakib Al Hasan. Nevertheless, the 96-run partnership had put New Zealand in a commanding position. Mitchell, known for his aggressive style, entered the fray and immediately made an impact. He set the tone with a six off his first ball, displaying aggression in both stroke play and running between the wickets.
Mitchell’s approach allowed Williamson to bat at his own pace, although the New Zealand skipper, returning from a knee injury, faced moments of discomfort in his running. He eventually had to retire hurt due to a thumb injury. Glenn Phillips joined Mitchell, and together, they took the Kiwis over the line.
Bangladesh, batting on a relatively favourable Chepauk pitch, fell short by 30-40 runs due to their struggles against the pace and bounce generated by New Zealand’s fast bowlers. Lockie Ferguson, in particular, proved to be a menace, forcing Bangladesh’s batsmen to dance around the crease. The short ball tactic accounted for the dismissals of Mehidy Hasan, Shakib, and indirectly, Tanzim Hasan.
Mushfiqur Rahim’s half-century and his partnership with Shakib were moments of promise for Bangladesh, but Shakib’s injury limited his mobility and led to their untimely separation. The frequent loss of wickets hampered Bangladesh’s innings, with 40/1 turning into 56/4 and later plummeting from 152/4 to 180/7, ultimately giving the advantage to New Zealand.
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