Black Caps crush Bangladesh by 75 runs in World T20

New Zealand bowled Bangladesh out for a record low of 70 as they cruised to a 75-run victory at cricket's World Twenty20 Saturday, maintaining their perfect record at the tournament.

Allrounder Grant Elliott took three wickets for 12 runs in his four overs while Ish Sodhi chipped in with three for 21 as Bangladesh's quest for a consolation win ended in tatters.

The Black Caps, who had already qualified for the tournament's semi-finals, had earlier made 145 for eight at Eden Gardens with Mustafizur Rahman taking five for 22.

But what had appeared to be a modest total soon proved to be too much for the Tigers who lost their leading batsman Tamim Iqbal in the second over, run out for just three.

Bangladesh were all at sea against New Zealand's quartet of slow bowlers and their top score came from tailender Shuvagata Hom who made 16. Only two others reached double figures.

After 11 overs they had made 45 for six and then had to sweat it out in the dressing-room after a floodlight failure brought a halt to procedings for more than 10 minutes.

After the resumption, they continued to find the Black Caps' bowlers pretty much unplayable and their innings only featured one six, a late blow from Rahman.

The total was the lowest for Bangladesh in any T20 international, with the record previously standing at 78.

It heaps more misery on a Bangladeshi team who failed to win any of their games at the tournament and suffered an agonising one-run defeat against India on Wednesday.

But it means that New Zealand go into the last four in good heart, with skipper Kane Williamson beginning to find form after scoring a brisk 42 off 32 balls at the top of the order.

Williamson was the second New Zealand wicket to fall to Rahman, who finished with figures of five for 22.

The opener Henry Nicholls, who was brought in to give Martin Guptill a rest, was the first to go, bowled by Rahman off a slower cutter with the score on 25.

Wiliamson had looked in good nick in an innings that included five boundaries and a six before he was also sent back to the Eden Gardens' dugout at the end of Rahman's first spell.

He was one of a number of the Black Caps' top order who promised to post a big score but were out just as they had finished building their platform.

Colin Munro had been warming up for his first substantial knock of the tournament. But three balls after lofting Al-Amin Hossain into the stands, he had his middle stump removed by the same bowler.  

The veteran Ross Taylor also contributed 28 off 24 balls before being caught by Mohammad Mithun off Hossain.

No other batsman got into double figures and Rahman bowled both Mitchell Santner and McCullum in his final over although his last ball was hammered for six by Mitchell McClenaghan.

The victory ensures New Zealand top their pool and they are now likely to play one of England, Sri Lanka or South Africa in the first semi-final in New Delhi on March 30.

The second semi-final is in Mumbai on March 31 while the final is at Eden Gardens on April 3.

Bangladesh are all out for 70 in 15.4 overs as New Zealand romp to a 75-run win maintaining their perfect record.

Al-Amin Hossain b Sodhi 0 (2b)

Mustafizur is caught behind after hammering a six.Ban 65-9, 14.5 overs

Mustafizur Rahman c Ronchi b Elliott 6 (3b 1x6)

Elliot strikes trapping the Bangladesh captain leg before. Ban 59-8, 14.2 overs.

Mashrafe Mortaza lbw b Elliott 3 (5b)

It's lights out for Bangladesh literally as Sodhi strikes soon after resumption. Ban 48-7, 12 overs.

Mahmudullah b Sodhi 5 (8b)

Play has been suspended after one the light towers fails at Eden Gardens. Ban 45-6, 11 overs.

Elliott strikes bowling Rahim with a ripper. Ban 44-6, 10.4 overs.

Mushfiqur Rahim b Elliott 0 (3b)

Bangladesh are imploding as Sarkar departs. Ban 43-5, 10 overs.

Soumya Sarkar st Ronchi b Sodhi 6 (8b)

Another one goes down as Sabbir holes out to long. Ban 38-4, 8.5 overs.

Sabbir Rahman c Santner b McCullum 12 (18b 1x4)

Shakib has holed out to long on. Ban 31-3, 7.1 overs.

Shakib Al Hasan c McCullum b Santner 2 (6b)

McLenaghan strikes castling Mithun. Ban 29-2, 5.4 overs.

Mohammad Mithun b McClenaghan 11 (17b 1x4 0x6)

New Zealand get a breakthrough as Tamim is run out. Ban 4-1, 2 overs.

Tamim Iqbal run out 3 (8b)

Bangladesh innings

Bangladesh put in a disciplined performance in the field to restrict New Zealand to 145-8 in a World Twenty20 Super 10 stage match at the Eden Gardens on Saturday.

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to bat, but paceman Mustafizur Rahman took five wickets for 22 runs, including two in the final over, on a very dry pitch in Kolkata.

Rahman made sure New Zealand did not get off to a good start when he bowled Henry Nicholls for seven in his first over.

Nicholls, back in the side in place off the injured Martin Guptill, opened with Williamson, who was the pick of the New Zealand batsmen, hitting five fours and a six in his 42 off 32 balls, before he too was bowled by Rahman.

The 20-year-old was indebted to a stunning catch by Shuvagata Hom for the wicket of Grant Elliott on nine, and he struck twice more off consecutive deliveries in the last over to bowl Mitchell Santner and Nathan McCullum for a golden duck.

Al-Amin Hossian broke through New Zealand's middle order, bowling the dangerous Colin Munro for 35 and picking up the wicket of Ross Taylor for 28.

Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza bowled the big-hitting Corey Anderson for a duck.

Bangladesh are bottom of Group Two and seeking their first win in the group stages while New Zealand are through to the semi-finals.  

McLenaghan has clubbed the hat-trick for a massive six as Black Cap finish on 145-8 despite Mustafizur's 5-22.

Mustafizur is on a hat-trick after castling McCullum for a duck. NZ 139-8, 19.5 overs.

Nathan McCullum b Mustafizur Rahman 0 (1b)

Mustafizur claims his fourth wicket. NZ 139-7, 19.4 overs.

Mitchell Santner b Mustafizur Rahman 3 (3b)

Mithun takes a brilliant catch as Taylor departs. NZ 127-6, 18.2 overs.

Ross Taylor c Mohammad Mithun b Al-Amin Hossain 28 (24b 2x4 1x6)

Shugata takes a super catch in the deep running back to send back Elliott. NZ 122-5, 17.5 overs.

Grant Elliott c Shuvagata Hom b Mustafizur Rahman 9 (7b 1x4)

Mortaza returns to strike a deadly blow removing the dangerous Anderson before he could get going. NZ 100-4, 15.4 overs.

Corey Anderson b Mashrafe Mortaza 0 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Al-Amin strikes a crucial blow just when Munro was stepping up the tempo. NZ 99-3, 14.5 overs.

Colin Munro b Al-Amin Hossain 35 (33b 1x4 2x6)

Munro smashes Mahmudullah for a boundary and a massive six as Black Caps step on it. NZ 91-2, 14 overs.

Mustafizur has struck again removing the New Zealand skipper with a scorcher. NZ 57-2, 9 overs.

Kane Williamson b Mustafizur Rahman 42 (32b 5x4 1x6)

Williamson is turning it on smashing a boundary and thundering six over long-on off Shakib. NZ 35-1, 5 overs.

Mustafizur draws first blood knocking out the stumps of Nicholls. NZ 25-1, 4 overs.

Henry Nicholls b Mustafizur Rahman 7 (11b 1x4)

Williamson cracks a couple of boundaries off Mortaza. NZ 9-0, 1 over.

New Zealand have won the toss and opted to bat first.

Nathan McCullum is in for Adam Milne, and Henry Nicholls comes in for Martin Guptill who gets some rest.

Bangladesh are unchanged.

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Mithun, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim†, Shuvagata Hom, Mashrafe Mortaza, Al-Amin Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman

New Zealand: HM Nicholls, KS Williamson, C Munro, CJ Anderson, LRPL Taylor, GD Elliott, MJ Santner, L Ronchi, NL McCullum, MJ McClenaghan, IS Sodhi

Preview

A buoyant New Zealand will look to maintain their perfect record in cricket's World Twenty20 in Kolkata on Saturday as they take on a demoralised Bangladesh team who have already booked their tickets home.

The Black Caps are guaranteed a place in next week's semi-finals after defeating India, Australia and Pakistan in their first three matches in the group stages.

But Kane Williamson's side, who are yet to win either of cricket's premier short-form trophies, will want to keep their momentum going before they enter the tournament's last four.

Williamson has so far relied on spin, with Trent Boult and Tim Southee - New Zealand's main strike bowlers in ODIs and Tests - left to kick their heels on the bench.

Martin Guptill, who top-scored with 80 in Tuesday's win over Pakistan, said the Black Caps would not necessarily stick to the same line-up but would wait to see what the Eden Gardens pitch had in store.

Guptill said New Zealand were enjoying their cricket and there was no reason why they couldn't finish the group with a 100 per cent record.

"We've got a mindset of being aggressive and just going out to have a bit of fun," he said.

"At the moment, everyone is having fun playing cricket, and we are playing some good cricket together, putting in some good performances.

"If we can do that again against Bangladesh, who knows, we can go through unbeaten."

The match represents Bangladesh's last chance at returning home with something after three straight defeats, including a heartbreaking last-ball loss to India on Wednesday night.

After his team took India right to the wire, Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza now has to pick his team up off the floor.

"It's always difficult to take something from it (a close defeat) to another match," he said after the India game.

"But obviously being professional players we have to take it and play hard cricket in the last match. Obviously if we can do something there then we can take something back home."

Teams:

New Zealand (from): Kane Williamson (captain), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Martin Guptill, Grant Elliott, Colin Munro, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne, Henry Nicholls, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor

Bangladesh (from): Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Shakib Al Hasan, Abu Hider, Al-Amin Hossain, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Nurul Hasan (wicketkeeper), Sabbir Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Tamim Iqbal, Shuvagata Hom, Saqlain Sajib

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