clontaago
First Grader
Bangladesh have produced the first shock result of the World Cup, beating New Zealand by two wickets in their first warm-up match at the 3Ws stadium in Barbados, largely thanks to a fine allround display from Mashrafe Mortaza.
Set 227 for victory, Mortaza, the No.9, launched two huge sixes off James Franklin in the penultimate over to seal their first win ever one-day win over New Zealand. Although the warm-ups for the World Cup are not counted as official ODIs, Bangladesh's confidence will be soaring.
Mortaza's unbeaten 30 capped a fine allround display. His four wickets - twice hitting the stumps; trapping Peter Fulton in front and providing the wicketkeeper with a simple catch - helped restrict New Zealand to 226. This in itself represented a recovery after Bangladesh's opening bowlers, Mortaza and Syed Rasel, had reduced them to 34 for 4.
Despite his injured finger, Jacob Oram salvaged the innings with a typically belligerent 88, sharing in a brisk stand of 105 with Brendon McCullum before the wicketkeeper was run-out four short of his fifty.
Bangladesh's batsmen were buoyed by their bowlers' effort, in spite of Oram's counterattack, and set off in a hurry. Tamim Iqbal, the 17-year-old who made his debut last month, hit Franklin out of the attack before smacking Daniel Vettori for six. Vettori got his man shortly afterwards, but Tamim's boldness appeared to rub off on his team-mates. Mohammad Ashraful worked the ball around and, in spite of losing several partners at the other end, kept Bangladesh in the hunt.
The return of Franklin seemed to end Bangladesh's hopes when he trapped Ashraful leg-before. But Mortaza smacked him for consequtive sixes in the penultimate over to mark the tournament's first upset.
"It was a poor performance," admitted Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand captain. "It was a day when nothing went right. We batted poorly at the beginning and did not assess conditions that well. Then we bowled tentatively at the start. We kept clinging on in the field - but we just couldn't shake them.
"It was a great performance from them, and it gives us some problems going forward."
Bangladesh face Scotland on Thursday while New Zealand tackle Sri Lanka the following day in Jamaica
Set 227 for victory, Mortaza, the No.9, launched two huge sixes off James Franklin in the penultimate over to seal their first win ever one-day win over New Zealand. Although the warm-ups for the World Cup are not counted as official ODIs, Bangladesh's confidence will be soaring.
Mortaza's unbeaten 30 capped a fine allround display. His four wickets - twice hitting the stumps; trapping Peter Fulton in front and providing the wicketkeeper with a simple catch - helped restrict New Zealand to 226. This in itself represented a recovery after Bangladesh's opening bowlers, Mortaza and Syed Rasel, had reduced them to 34 for 4.
Despite his injured finger, Jacob Oram salvaged the innings with a typically belligerent 88, sharing in a brisk stand of 105 with Brendon McCullum before the wicketkeeper was run-out four short of his fifty.
Bangladesh's batsmen were buoyed by their bowlers' effort, in spite of Oram's counterattack, and set off in a hurry. Tamim Iqbal, the 17-year-old who made his debut last month, hit Franklin out of the attack before smacking Daniel Vettori for six. Vettori got his man shortly afterwards, but Tamim's boldness appeared to rub off on his team-mates. Mohammad Ashraful worked the ball around and, in spite of losing several partners at the other end, kept Bangladesh in the hunt.
The return of Franklin seemed to end Bangladesh's hopes when he trapped Ashraful leg-before. But Mortaza smacked him for consequtive sixes in the penultimate over to mark the tournament's first upset.
"It was a poor performance," admitted Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand captain. "It was a day when nothing went right. We batted poorly at the beginning and did not assess conditions that well. Then we bowled tentatively at the start. We kept clinging on in the field - but we just couldn't shake them.
"It was a great performance from them, and it gives us some problems going forward."
Bangladesh face Scotland on Thursday while New Zealand tackle Sri Lanka the following day in Jamaica
