New Zealand hold nerve to beat Bangladesh in thriller

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup - Bangladesh v New Zealand - The Oval, London, Britain - June 5, 2019 New Zealand's Kane Williamson looks dejected as he walks off after losing his wicket Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

LONDON (Reuters) - New Zealand held their nerve under the floodlights to beat Bangladesh by two wickets in a dramatic low-scoring Cricket World Cup match at The Oval on Wednesday.

Chasing a modest target of 245, Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson shared a third-wicket partnership of 105 to put the Black Caps on course for a comfortable victory, but they lost six more wickets before notching up their second win of the tournament with 17 balls to spare.

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup - Bangladesh v New Zealand - The Oval, London, Britain - June 5, 2019 New Zealand's Kane Williamson in action Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Williamson should have been run out for eight but Bangladesh wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim dislodged the bails with his arm to waste the chance and the New Zealand captain went on to make 40.

Tom Latham was out cheaply and when Taylor was caught by Mushfiqur for 82 Bangladesh scented a famous win.

Colin de Grandhomme, Jimmy Neesham and Matt Henry also fell as the pressure mounted but Mitchell Santner and Lockie Ferguson stayed calm to edge New Zealand over the line.

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup - Bangladesh v New Zealand - The Oval, London, Britain - June 5, 2019 New Zealand's Martin Guptill in action Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Shakib Al Hasan top-scored for Bangladesh with 64 and several batsmen made starts but they lost wickets at regular intervals and were never able to dominate a disciplined bowling attack.

(Reporting by Ed Osmond, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup - Bangladesh v New Zealand - The Oval, London, Britain - June 5, 2019 New Zealand's Mitchell Santner celebrates at the end of the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup - Bangladesh v New Zealand - The Oval, London, Britain - June 5, 2019 Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan celebrates with team mates after taking the catch to dismiss New Zealand's Colin Munro Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup - Bangladesh v New Zealand - The Oval, London, Britain - June 5, 2019 New Zealand's James Neesham in action Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup - Bangladesh v New Zealand - The Oval, London, Britain - June 5, 2019 Bangladesh's Mosaddek Hossain celebrates with team mates after taking the wicket of New Zealand's James Neesham Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge