The Hindu : New Zealand cruises to victory

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 27, 2003

Sport

Sport - World Cup

New Zealand cruises to victory

KIMBERLEY Feb. 26. New Zealand cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh at the World Cup on Tuesday to jump back into contention for a place in the Super Sixes.

A hard-hit 75 by Craig McMillan set up the New Zealand run chase after Bangladesh, which had made a championship high 198 for seven, had bowled their first few overs particularly well.

Opening with captain Stephen Fleming, McMillan battled with his footwork at first. But once Fleming smashed the bowling of the hapless Tapash Baisya's fourth over for 21, the floodgates were opened.

``It was a calculated risk taking on Baisya,'' said Fleming, ``but we had decided to take a look for about eight overs, and then look for a run rate that would win us the game well.''

McMillan scored his runs off 83 balls and they included nine fours and two sixes. He was bowled by Khaled Mahmud when going for a big hit, but by then, his work had been done.

The game was finished off in flamboyant fashion by Chris Cairns and Scott Styris. Styris scored an undefeated 37, but Cairns got the pulses of the large crowd racing with some big hitting, including a huge straight six right out of the ground during his 33.

Bangladesh dug deep and scored a presentable total. Opening batsman Mohammad Ashraful led the way with a fine 56, his highest score in one-day Internationals. It was a watchful innings, played as New Zealand managed to make some early inroads into the Bangladeshi batting line-up.

He reached his 50 off 71 balls in 100 minutes, and, when he was dismissed to a skied attempted pull off Shane Bond, he had hit six fours and a six. He was given a life, however, when Cairns put down a simple catch when he had 24.

He was given good support by the lower middle order. Akram Khan, although he made only 13, looked as if he was capable of facing and dealing with good attacks.

But a sparkling unbroken eighth-wicket partnership of 70 between captain Khaled Mashud and left-handed slow bowler Mohammad Rafique drove the Bangladesh innings into respectable territory.

It was a record at the World Cup for the eighth wicket for Bangladesh, and the second-highest World Cup partnership ever for the world's newest Test-playing nation.

After taking a hit on the foot from Bond and calling for a runner, Rafique was particularly aggressive and his 41 came off 42 balls. Mashud was characteristically watchful for his 35, but he also indulged in some lusty hitting towards the end.

For the Kiwis, Bond was easily the best bowler, finishing with three for 33. His pace and bounce had the batsmen in almost constant trouble.

Daniel Vettori had a very economical spell of 10 over for 19 runs, but he lacked penetration. Jacob Oram also took three wickets, including two off his first two deliveries, and it cost 32 runs. His height makes him one of the most exciting prospects the Kiwis have in their ranks.

Earlier, Mashud won the toss and elected to bat on a hot day at Kimberley's De Beers Diamond Oval with a gentle breeze that made things more bearable for the New Zealand fielders.

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