Martin Guptill scored 105 as New Zealand faced and only just surmounted the stern test it wanted before the knockout rounds of the World Cup, beating Bangladesh by three wickets on Friday to finish pool play unbeaten.
Mahmudullah made his second consecutive century — 128 not out from 123 balls — as Bangladesh reached 288-7 after being sent in and stand-in captain Shakib Al Hasan (4-55) sprang a carefully-planned trap when his left-arm spin captured the wickets of New Zealand’s leading batsmen Brendon McCullum (8) and Kane Williamson (1).
New Zealand was under pressure at 33-2 in its largest run-chase of the tournament, was revived by Guptill but faltered again and scraped home with Daniel Vettori (16) and Tim Southee (12) at the crease and seven balls to spare. After Guptill’s century and Ross Taylor’s 56, Grant Elliott and Corey Anderson both made 39 to edge New Zealand toward its target before the final act was left to Vettori and Southee.
New Zealand needed 26 off the last three overs, lost Anderson after he had hit a six, then negotiated the last tense steps to victory through Vettori’s big hitting and cool head.
Bangladesh will now face India in a quarterfinal in Melbourne on Thursday and will go into that match with some confidence after a solid and well-rounded performance. It posted the highest total of any of New Zealand’s six pool opponents and became the first team New Zealand hasn’t been able to bowl out in its six pool matches.
The Hamilton match was a test for both teams in many ways. Bangladesh was without its inspirational captain Masharafe bin Mortaza who was rested either for a slight sore throat or, more likely, for strategic reasons. Mortaza was fined when Bangladesh failed to bowl its overs in the required time during its win over England on Monday. He faced the possibility of a one-match suspension. New Zealand was also forced to make a change for the first time in six matches because of a shoulder injury to fast bowler Adam Milne.