CWC 2023, 11th Match: New Zealand VS Bangladesh Played at Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, India on 13 October 2023
Bangladesh 245/9 (Mushfiqur Rahim 66, Mahmudullah Riad 41*, Shakib Al Hasan 40, Mehedi Hasan Miraj 30, Taskin Ahmed 17, Lockie Ferguson 3/49, Trent Boult 2/45, Mat Henry 2/58)
New Zealand 248/2 in 42.5 Overs (Daryl Mitchell 89*, Ken Willamson 78 Retired Hurt, Devon Conway 45, Mustafizur Rahman 1/36, Shakib Al Hasan 1/54)
New Zealand Won by 8 Wickets with 43 balls to spare
Player of the match: Lockie Ferguson (3/49)
Bangladesh mission of CWC 2023 received another serious dent as New Zealand recording a hat trick of easy wins by 8 wickets continued its merry rides towards business session.
Yesterday at Chennai Bangladesh was given a bitter lesson of world-class all-round cricket by New Zealand. Put into bat Bangladesh looked novice against hostile pace of black cap pacers. The awfully poor Bangladesh batsmen could not even many well against New Zealand spinners. Only a face shaving 96 runs 5th wicket partnership between Mushfiqur Rahim (66) and Shakib Al Hasan (40) and fighting 41* by Mahmudullah Riad coming to bat as low as 8 led Bangladesh scoring 245/9. Black Caps cruised over the target scoring 248/2 in 42.5 Overs.
Bangladesh dream of semifinal in CWC 2023 losing two back-to-back matches got yet another heavy blow. New Zealand consolidated position among the top of the points table.
The pathetic journey of Bangladesh continued as Bangladesh top order batting again got blown away by quality black caps fast and furious pace attack on a sporting wicket. Litton, Tanzid Tamim, Nazmul Shanto, Mehedy Hasan Miraz all fell to their weak techniques against confronting quality fast and bouncy pace bowling. Once again Bangladesh innings looked tottering at 4/56. Bangladesh top order even could not play spin of Mitchel Santner and Rachin Ravindra well at all. However, a fighting 96 runs partnership by ever reliable Mushfiqur Rahim (66 in 75 balls) and Shakib Al Hasan (40) restored some pride. Shakib looked uncomfortable with a possible injury of hamstring. He struggled to rotate strike and ultimately lost his wicket trying to play an aggressive stroke against Ferguson. Mushfique also failed to convert his innings to a three figure. Apart from a quality unbeaten innings of 41 by experienced veteran Mahmudullah Riad sent illogically to bat in the lower middle order Mushfique played masterly strokes and looked comfortable at the wicket.
It was an inexcusable mistake not to let Mahmudullah bat at a higher order while the top order was looking for the novice in dealing with quality black cap bowling. However, Bangladesh could last till 50th Over mainly due to Riad’s skill. But 245/9 proved at least 40-50 runs too less on a sporting wicket against very strong black cap batting. New Zealand pacers Lockie Ferguson (3/49), Trent Boult (2/45) and Mat Henry (2/58) were main destroyers. Even spinners Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra strangled Bangladesh batsmen.
The absence of Tamim Iqbal at the top was keenly felt. Riad showed to his critics why ignoring him in Bangladesh team lacks justice. What continues to happen with Bangladesh batting is the consequence of arrogance of team management. How can a batsman of Riad’s pedigree can be sent to bat as low as number 8 while the top order gets blown away against quality pace? What Bangladesh team management wants to prove?
Bangladeshi pacers Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful started well but unlike Bangladeshi New Zealand batsmen had the quality and the skill to deal with the situation. Back in the team after a while captain Kane Willaimson showed the way playing a smart innings of 78 before retiring hurt. Daryl Mitchell remained not out scoring 89. Devon Conway scored 45 as New Zealand scoring 248/2 cruised across the target registering their third consecutive win the CWC 2023. The only concern is whether the fresh injury of Williamson will keep him out of action for few matches of the tournament. Bangladesh also has concerns with the captain. New Zealand plays Afghanistan next at the same venue on 18th October while Bangladesh’s next opponent is mighty India at Pune on 19th October. While Black cap is on ascendency to the top Bangladesh mission CWC 2023 is nose diving.
Bangladesh policymakers have started giving excuses saying that their mission CWC 2023 is to prepare the team for the next World Cup where Shakib, Mushfique and Mahmudullah will not be available for sure. Bangladesh may even struggle to qualify.
BDST: 0913 HRS, OCT 14, 2023
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