Follow UsBangladesh fought hard in Match 11 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, but in the end, the efficient Kiwis turned out to be too good a side for them. New Zealand brushed Bangladesh aside in Chennai to make it three victories in three games.
Kane Williamson, marking his return to professional cricket after six months, hit form right away. He scored 78 off 107 balls, absorbing the early jitters of the run chase. Later, Daryl Mitchell’s unbeaten 89 from 67 took New Zealand home with 43 balls to spare. With the ball, Lockie Ferguson was the star, snaffling 3/49.
Bangladesh had posted 245/9 after being put in to bat first. On either side of a 96-run stand between Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh kept losing wickets in quick successions.
“We didn't bat well. We didn't start well. We batted poorly even in the last game in the first 10-15 overs,” said Nazmul Hasan Shanto during post-match presentation, filling in for the unavailable Shakib, the skipper of the Bangladesh side.
Bangladesh were bowled out for 227 in their last game, against England. Against New Zealand, they slid from 40/1 to 56/4 before Shakib and Rahim put the innings back on track.
“We have to bat little responsibly. If we bat a little carefully in the first 10-15, then we can do well,” Shanto added.
Shanto also shed light on Shakib’s injury. While batting, Shakib suffered cramps on his left-quadricep muscle. He was out soon after showing first signs of pain, scoring 40 off 51 balls. He placed himself in the slips so that he doesn’t have to run and limped in the field while celebrating the first wicket when Mustafizur Rahman dismissed Rachin Ravindra. However, the all-rounder completed his 10-over quota with figures of 1/54.
“He [Shakib] is going for his scans. We will know after that,” Shanto said Shakib’s situation which will be cleared tomorrow.
Co-incidentally, and unfortunately, the opposition skipper also received an injury blow. Williamson, having won the race against time to recover from the ACL injury, was struck on his left thumb by a throw from a Bangladeshi fielder. The incident happened in the 38th over of the run chase, when Williamson was taking a quick single. The ball struck him on the unprotected left thumb. The Kiwi skipper soon retired hurt understanding the finish line is in sight.
“Just got a bit fat and colourful straight away so got a scan tomorrow, but hopefully it's okay,” Williamson spoke about his thumb, hoping against a fracture.
“It's okay, glad to get through the game from a knee perspective,” he added with a grin on his face when Ian Bishop questioned him about the knee injury he has recovered from.
New Zealand seamers bowled 45% of their deliveries in the short and back-of-a-length area combined in a well-executed ploy.
“I thought the guys in the first half of the performance were excellent. They just banged the wicket hard, it was a bit variable,” the Kiwi skipper said.
He appreciated Ferguson for his impactful figures which contained wickets of Tanzid Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib.
“He [Lockie] was outstanding. You come here expecting the spinners to play a big role, but the seamers did really well today. Lockie he just keeps running in, bowling at high pace and he hasn't had some of that good fortune, so thoroughly deserved,” Williamson said.
On his positive return with the bat, Williamson mentioned it was hard to negotiate the new ball but building partnerships was paramount to the team’s cause.
“It was nice to be out there and be a part of some of those partnerships, some tough periods with the new ball was hard work. But just wanted to build partnerships and get close to that target,” the 33-year old said.
Bangladesh will now travel to Pune to lock horns with India next, on October 19. New Zealand will stay in Chennai to face Afghanistan a day earlier.