Shakib, Mahmudullah knock Kiwis out of Champions Trophy

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With this win, Bangladesh stay in the hunt to reach the semis of the tournament. Brilliant performers like Tamim Iqbal and Shakibul Hasan will always pull in crowds but the authorities, who claim to be so anxious about falling attendance at cricket matches, have to work with the players, not against them.

New Zealand and Bangladesh have one point after two games, one point behind Australia.

The scenario of this penultimate Group A match was straightforward.

But if Saturday's match, as has happened twice to Australia already this tournament, ends in a no result washout it will be Bangladesh who go into the semi-finals.

I wasn't too concerned when Tamim went cheaply, but the alarm bells began to ring when Tim Southee picked up three wickets in his opening spell and Bangladesh rapidly tumbled to 33 for four. After a hard final 10 overs of their batting innings, Tim Southee and Boult combined brilliantly to give them a dream start with the ball.

Tamim had no answer to a delivery which straightened on him and was shown to be hitting the stumps after Bangladesh had asked for a review. New Zealand 2017 Champions Trophy Group A cricket match, for a limited period of time, such as the offer at this link.

And Soumya Sarkar was lbw to Southee, Bangaladesh were 12 for three. Bangladesh lost another key batsmen cheaply when Mushfiqur (14) was bowled by Milne.

But Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah both made hundreds to turn the game on its head.

A six over the leg side brought up Shakib's ton, and he motored Bangladesh towards the finish line with successive fours before Boult bowled him.

A magnificent double-century partnership has steered Bangladesh to a five-wicket win over New Zealand in Cardiff, eliminating the Black Caps from the Champions Trophy.

Against Australia, the last seven wickets fell for just 47 runs and in the next match against England, it was the same story (seven wickets collapsing for 65 runs).

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Besides Mosaddek's three wickets, Taskin Ahmed, who was playing his first Champions Trophy clash, bagged two wickets while Rubel Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman chipped in with a wicket each. Sixth-ranked Bangladesh could advance to the semifinals, depending on the result of the England-Australia game at Edgbaston on Saturday.

I thought the decision to field Taskin Ahmed was both bold and correct, and I don't say it with the benefit of hindsight. In saying that we felt there were a few more runs left out there and it would have been nice to get closer to a par total.

"Yes, he is in great form but we can not focus only on Williamson", said Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza at his pre-match press conference.

"We have to wait now, but in the last three years we keep improving a lot". This sort of performance really help us to move forward, especially with the 2019 World Cup (in England) coming up.

Al Hasan and Mahmudullah were unperturbed by their predicament, striking 19 fours and three sixes and ensuring their team never drifted far behind the required run rate.

"We knew Tamim wasn't going to get a score every day".

"Everyone sets out to perform their role as best they can and give to the side and play selfless cricket and that's certainly the attitude of the players", Williamson said.

Shakib brought up his fifty and the century partnership in the 29th over with one of his trademark strolled singles to third man, very Arjuna Ranatunga-like.

Together they added 83, the highest partnership of the innings, enabling the Kiwis to reach 150 for two by the 30th over.

"We've got to use this experience to be better as a unit and as individuals, because you are going to be put under pressure in these tournaments".

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