New Zealand yesterday bowled Bangladesh out for a record low of 70 as they cruised to a 75-run victory at cricket’s World Twenty20, maintaining their perfect record at the tournament.
All-rounder Grant Elliott took three wickets for 12 runs in his four overs, while Ish Sodhi chipped in with 3-21 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 145-8 at Eden Gardens with Mustafizur Rahman taking 5-22.
Photo: Reuters
However, 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 45-6 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.
It heaps more misery on a Bangladeshi team who failed to win any of their games at the tournament and suffered an agonizing one-run defeat against India on Wednesday.
However, 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 5-22.
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 looked in good nick in an innings that included five boundaries and a six before he was 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.
WEST INDIES V SOUTH AFRICA
The West Indies beat South Africa by three wickets in a low-scoring thriller in their World Twenty20 Super 10 match on Friday to join New Zealand in the semi-finals.
The West Indian attack responded brilliantly to captain Darren Sammy’s decision to bowl first on a slow pitch offering help as they restricted South Africa to 122-8.
Johnson Charles hit 32 at the top of the order as the 2012 champions seemed in control of their run chase until leg-spinner Imran Tahir struck twice in consecutive deliveries in his last over to haul his side back into the game.
Marlon Samuels, named man of the match for his 44, was then removed by paceman Chris Morris in the penultimate over.
Carlos Brathwaite calmed West Indian jitters when he hit a six off paceman Kagiso Rabada as the West Indies clinched a third successive victory, with two balls to spare.
“I was smiling, but inside there were some butterflies,” Sammy said. “We came here to win this match to qualify and we have done that so I am very happy.”
Earlier, opener Quinton de Kock (47) played a disciplined innings to rescue South Africa after they slumped to 47-5 in the ninth over.
De Kock added 50 for the sixth wicket with David Wiese (28) to give his team a competitive total to defend.
“It felt like all game we were just behind the West Indies and trying to catch up,” South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis said. “It was a 135, pitch but it was a great fight by the boys. This game makes us all very old very quickly. The West Indies were just a little bit better than us today.”
Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo picked up two wickets apiece for the West Indies, who retained the same side that beat Sri Lanka in their last match in Bangalore.
South Africa, who have never lifted the trophy, but were one of the pre-tournament favorites, have two points from three Group 1 games and look like going out.
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