So that’s it from me today, but you might want to join us tomorrow morning at 8.30 am - when India meet Pakistan in Ahmedabad. Thanks for all your emails today, impermeables and all. Have a lovely weekend, bye!
Busy, busy, busy!
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) October 13, 2023
This is the scene in Ahmedabad the night before India v Pakistan. 🇮🇳🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/s4UjUtDbvc
The captains. Well one of them, as Shakib ul Hassan is having a scan. Vice-captain Najmul Hossain Shanto “We didn’t bat well, we have to improve. I think we have to bat responsibly and we need to bat first 10-15 overs more carefully. Looks a good surface, with the new ball a bit of extra bounce. Very impressive from all three fast bowlers. If we bat better in future matches it will be a different ball game.”
Kane Williamson, with a bandaged thumb. “[thumb] got fat and colourful straight away, made holding a bat difficult so will get a scan tomorrow. Really nice performance from the team, nice to build partnerships and take the game deep. It was nice to be out there and scrap through some tough periods with the new ball and build those partnerships and get close tot hat target. Daryll is a great competitor, today was an outstanding knock. He’s a team-first guy.”
So three wins out of three for New Zealand, and they top the table with six points and a NRR of 1.6 – as the tournament moves onto the third “round”. Bangladesh hover just below England with just the one win – they’re going to have to topple some giants to get into the quarter finals.
We speed into the presentation ceremony. The player of the match is Lockie Ferguson. “Great team effort from the Black Caps, luckily the wicket gave me a bit of assistance today. Compared to at Hyderabad this certainly had a bit more bounce. It is early stages, nice to have three wins, enjoying our time here.”
New Zealand win by eight wickets!
42.5 overs: New Zealand 248-2 (Mitchell 89, Phillips 16) Sealed with a six, as Mitchell finishes things off with a flay over midwicket. Another superb-judged win for New Zealand on a humid, sweaty night in Chennai.
42nd over: New Zealand 240-2 (Mitchell 82, Phillips 15) Phillips sweeps into the sky, but Taskin dives with terrible timing over the ball. Mitchell then cuts for four. Phillips gets the kitchen sink including surround onto the last ball which he sweeps high for six. Thirteen off Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s over. Just six needed
41st over: New Zealand 227-2 (Mitchell 76, Phillips 8) Sweat pouring off Mitchell’s face turning him a little bit Raiders of the Lost Ark. Phillips fires one into the air but it falls safely between the fielders. Mitchell gets some treatment for cramp. 19 needed.
40th over: New Zealand 221-2 (Mitchell 73, Phillips 6 ) Mitchell in a hurry to get this done now – pulls a short one for four, cracks another just past Taskin’s follow through. Phillips joins in with a top-edge to the left of the keeper for four. Just 25 needed.
Kane Williamson retires hurt.
39th over: New Zealand 206-2 (Mitchell 63, PHillips 1 ) Alistair Connor is back, this time with links to Jean-Pierre’s magnifique impermeables. “Any readers in the region,” writes Connor, “should consider themselves invited!” On the field, bad news for New Zealand fans, Kane Wiliamson has retired hurt after the magic spray didn’t work on that crunched thumb, replaced by Glenn Phillips. Mitchell biffs Mustafizur for four.
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38th over: New Zealand 198-2 (Williamson 78, Mitchell 57) Williamson gets a nasty, blow on the left thumb in a freakish injury as he struggled to complete a quick single. Would have been out if the throw had been more accurate, but instead he somehow gets hit on the unprotected part of the glove as he scurries to the non-striker’s end. After a few minutes repair in the middle, Mitchell waits a ball before, on tip toe, lofting Taskin for a one-handed straight six. He and Williamson tentatively touch the back of gloves.
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Fifty for Darryl Mitchell!
37th over: New Zealand 190-2 (Williamson 76, Mitchell 4) Mitchell too starting to accelerate towards the target – just 56 needed now – gets to fifty with a six.
“Good evening Tanya,” lovely to hear from you again Kirshnamoorthy! “So my bold prediction of 32 over is gone But , can an investigation be done to assess the traces of blood in Willliamson’s icy veins ?” I wish.
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36th over: New Zealand 182-2 (Williamson 77, Mitchell 50) Mitchell wakes up the dozy with a hooked four off Taskin, flat-batted with a yo-ho-ho.
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35th over: New Zealand 174-2 (Williamson 74, Mitchell 37) Shakib whistles through his ninth over. Michell delicately turns him off his ankles for four, his first boundary since he slammed six off his first delivery.
34th over: New Zealand 169-2 (Williamson 73, Mitchell 33) Williamson crouches to dab MHM for four. Eight from the over. Here comes Sodhi again with the sweaty towel. Darkness has fallen over Chennai and the Bangladesh supporters in the crowd have quietened.
33rd over: New Zealand 161-2 (Williamson 61, Mitchell 28) Just three singles from Shakib.
32nd over: New Zealand 158-2 (Williamson 61, Mitchell 28) Williamson, starting to inch up his sleeves, pulls a juicy short one from Mehidy Hasan Miraz for four.
31st over: New Zealand 150-2 (Williamson 61, Mitchell 26) A fabulous ball from Shakib, fizzes past the edge of Mitchell’s bat. But no cigar. On New Zealand accumulate.
“Friday night plans?” asks Simon McMahon. “This evening I will mostly be watching Alastair Cook batting for England, and crying like Jimmy when watching that interview at the end of The Oval Test in 2018. Apart from that, nothing much.”
30th over: New Zealand 146-2 (Williamson 59, Mitchell 24) New Zealand need a round 100 from 120 balls.
John Starbuck again, this time with culinary tips: “It used to be that the Be-Ro cookbook (a small pamphlet) was given away for free as a promotional tool. These days, you have to pay for a larger edition (and the order will be delayed anyway), but it’s the very best for basic baking recipes for cooks who can’t be too bothered. Even professional caterers use it.”
Fifty for Kane Williamson!
29th over: New Zealand 141-2 (Williamson 56, Mitchell 22) Fifty for Williamson on his return from injury. He acknowledges it with an imperceptible wrinkle of the beard, a brief bat raise and a glove touch with Mitchell. His World Cup average is 60.06, but this is his joint slowest fifty in ODIs, with 51 dot balls – as he leans into a wide one from Shoriful and cuts it effortlessly for four.
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28th over: New Zealand 130-2 (Williamson 49, Mitchell 18) Almost an action replay from earlier as Mitchell launches into Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Das on the rope stretches with both hands just in front of the boundary but is carried over the boards by the momentum, throws the ball back over before he lands and reduces six to four.
27th over: New Zealand 126-2 (Williamson 48, Mitchell 15) Just one off Shoriful’s over, as in the middle Williamson and Mitchell have a rub down with a big purple towel and drink some water. Sodhi on sweaty towel carrying duties, wears it round his neck on the way back, which is beyond the call of duty. Though Eau de Kane could probably fetch a pretty sum on ebay.
26th over: New Zealand 125-2 (Williamson 47, Mitchell 15) Just two from a over whizzed through from Mehidy Hasan Miraz. I think this is the slow middle period.
“Hi,” writes John Starbuck. “Cherry pie isn’t always that easy. At this time of year, we’d be better off with an Eve’s Pudding.” Hands up, I’ve never made a fruit pie, only crumbles. If we used ready-made pastry?
25th over: New Zealand 123-2 (Williamson 46, Mitchell 14) Shakib, regulation florescent green boots, flicks his field around. Some dabs here and there and then perfect placement from Williamson who lofts four between the fielders and to the long on boundary. New Zealand are halfway to their target, at the halfway stage.
24th over: New Zealand 116-2 (Williamson 40, Mitchell 13) Taskin’s shirt is sticking to his back like wet tissue paper. Storms in, despite the humidity, just three singles from the over, as outside my window I can hear school-kids on their way home, free for the weekend.
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23rd over: New Zealand 113-2 (Williamson 40, Mitchell 11) Williamson bounces and launches Shakib for six, 80 metres over the fence. Easy as cherry pie. Then he shakes his head to restore equilibrium.
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22nd over: New Zealand 103-2 (Williamson 33, Mitchell 8 ) No risk central – three careful singles off Taskin.
21st over: New Zealand 100-2 (Williamson 31, Mitchell 7 ) Mitchell causing chaos! Slams his first ball for six – caught, superbly in the air at long-off by Mahmadullah before he trips and flies over the boundary - then charges an extremely risque single.
And another Friday night email, thank you Alistair Connor:
“I’m not going to try to out-glam Mark, so here’s another pitch.
“We’re off to stay with friends in an extremely rustic farmhouse in Ardèche, and will be remote-officing from there on Monday so that we can go to the opening of our friend Jean-Pierre’s (age 70) fashion show.
“He’s taught himself sewing in the last couple of years, and has made an absolutely stunning collection of ladies’ raincoats out of stocks of seventies-vintage garish « toile cirée » tablecloth.
“Cheers (and up the Blacks, both All and Caps!)“
Sounds amazing! Can the OBO have a peek at some of Jean-Pierre’s raincoats?
WICKET! Conway lbw Shakib 45 (New Zealand 92-2)
Given out on the field, Conway reviews, turned down! A straighter ball that foxes Conway as he drops to reverse-sweep.
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20th over: New Zealand 92-1 (Conway 45, Williamson 30 ) MehidyHasan Miraz with his offies. Five singles and another wide. New Zealand slowly, surely, putting the jigsaw pieces into the puzzle.
19th over: New Zealand 86-1 (Conway 42, Williamson 28 ) Williamson dropped! Taskin at midwicket goes for it double handed but can only nudge it away. Not the man you want to drop, even as he tentatively plays himself back into match fitness.
18th over: New Zealand 84-1 (Conway 41, Williamson 27) Mehidy Hasan Mira takes the pill. Three singles and a glorious four from the dainty-shoed Williamson who watches, advances and nails him over mid on.
17th over: New Zealand 76-1 (Conway 38, Williamson 22) Shakib whistles through his over, a binary 101010.
16th over: New Zealand 74-1 (Conway 37, Williamson 21) Five from it.
15th over: New Zealand 65-1 (Conway 30, Williamson 19) Spin. Shakib Al Hasan, directs his field with the panache of a conductor on his dais. Three dots followed by a frisky sweep from Conway to bring two, well fielded in the end on the rope.
“How’s this for a weekend…” taps Mark Richards, “belated birthday dinner tonight at Gravetye Manor with an early morning flight to Ibiza for the closing party tomorrow night. England play on Sunday morning which reminds me of the last WC final when we were also heading back from Ibiza that day. Had to leave the hotel after Archer’s second ball of the super over and lost connection. It was another hour before I found out we’d won. PS: I should add my wonderful other half Kat is a Kiwi.”
Talk about blowing the opposition out of the water with the first email! I wonder if you’ve ever heard my fab cousin who DJs there occassionally. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t read the Guardian’s OBO coverage, but this is her.
14th over: New Zealand 65-1 (Conway 30, Williamson 19) They take drinks, as Conway and Williamson slip up just a gear. Five from the over.
Great start from Bangladesh, restricting New Zealand to 37-1 off the 1st ten overs
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 13, 2023
The Bangladesh bowlers have been much more disciplined in their line and length compared to their last match against England. #CWC2023
Bangladesh bowling to left-handers in the first Powerplay: pic.twitter.com/Ol8Yz9H0Lw
13th over: New Zealand 60-1 (Conway 28, Williamson 16) The fifty up, helped by a Conway boundary, and another two wides. Bangladesh can’t really afford these extras – though they turn their noses up at one of these calls and review it, absurdly, for a caught behind. Taskin pings one into the ground and Conway fends it off with one hand on the bat. And to the last ball, Williamson helps one on its way past the empty slip area to the rope.
Hello again Krishnamoorthy V:
“I am from Chennai and I can imagine how hot it can be even this late in the evening in October. But I can’t understand Taskin sweating like you mention. He is from Bangladesh, which is hotter and humider than the cauldron called Madras.”
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12th over: New Zealand 45-1 (Conway 20, Williamson 11) Another excellent over from Mustafizur who now has 1-17 from five. A wide bolsters New Zealand, along with a handful of singles.
If you’re in the ground, or at the office, or working in front of the television, do entertain me with your thoughts, or plans for Friday night.
11th over: New Zealand 41-1 (Conway 18, Williamson 10) Taskin continues, wipes the sweat from his hair, his nose, his cheeks. A 20-step run up, Conway can’t get a clean bat on it, though profits from a wide.
10th over: New Zealand 37-1 (Conway 15, Williamson 10) Williamson unfurled. Cuts over cover for four, and again for four more, the slow mo showing sweat flying off his body as he does so. Shoriful responds with a bouncer so high that it is called wide. Williamson is sent back after trying to steal the strike from the last ball.
9th over: New Zealand 28-1 (Conway 15, Williamson 2) Taskin comes on first change, but continues Bangladesh’s penny-pinching ways. Williamson is happy to leave well alone, until the last ball where he steals a quick single and…the strike.
8th over: New Zealand 27-1 (Conway 7, Williamson 1) Conway breaks the shackles with a boundary, lumping through mid-on. He dabbles at another, flailing at thin air, and is furious at himself for being so weak. He doesn’t make another mistake, driving Shoriful through the covers for four more. Nine off the over and, at last, some coins to lay down in the cellar.
Bangladesh’s batters were struggling with the heat earlier. If you haven’t read the excellent Hit for Six report about the effect of increased temperatures on cricketers, I recommend it.
7th over: New Zealand 18-1 (Conway 7, Williamson 1) Damn! Conway drives, with balance, but Mendy flies in the air at backward point and gets a hand to the ball but can’t hold on. Conway takes two, Mustafizur grins ruefully.
6th over: New Zealand 15-1 (Conway 4, Williamson 1) Reminded that Allan Donald is Bangladesh’s bowling coach, as Shoriful, long of torso and rapid of speed, sends down a maiden.
And in news just in, Alastair Cook has retired from all cricket.
❤️ 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗳! pic.twitter.com/WG7pMAZyft
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) October 13, 2023
5th over: New Zealand 15-1 (Conway 4, Williamson 1) Quite an examination here for New Zealands two arch accumulators. Mustafizur, wiping the sweat from his ears, charging in, mixing up his lengths. Conway charges down the pitch, swings, and is lucky to escape.
4th over: New Zealand 14-1 (Conway 4, Williamson 0) More tidy work from Shoriful Islam who is finding considerable lift. He finished with a fiery snorter which Conway swings at but misses.
An email wings in from Krishnamoorthy V, before, it must be said, New Zealand lost their first wicket.
“You will have time to go for an evening walk along the Thames. Kiwis will wrap this up in under 32 overs.” Bold prediction! It will have to be the Mersey rather than the Thames, but if they can wrap it up before sunset, I’d be very grateful.
3rd over: New Zealand 12-1 (Conway 2, Williamson 0) Ravindra was just getting settled, having pinged Mustafizur for two fours in his first three balls, when he was done by one with a bit more fizz. Enter Kane Williamson, towel rubbed and ready to go.
WICKET! Ravindra c Mushafiqur b Mustafizur Rahim 9 (New Zealand 12-1)
Some extra bounce and a crouched Ravindra gets an outside edge through to the keeper!
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2nd over: New Zealand 4-0 (Conway 2, Ravindra 1) The tall Shoriful Islam starts at the other end. Throws in a wide waving down leg side, but otherwise a miserly effort, with New Zealand picking up just two singles including an uncomfortable squeeze by Ravindara.
New Zealand need 246 to win
1st over: New Zealand 1-0 (Conway 1, Ravindra 0) Mustafizur Rahman with the new ball, Conway off the mark straight away with a clerical dab down to third, but that’s New Zealand’s lot from a neat and tidy first over. Lots of enthusiastic noise from the crowd.
An early email drops. “Hello Tanya!” Kim Thonger, hello.
”On Sunday I met a Bangladeshi cab driver in New York who told me he is the only one of his 200 strong friends and family network there with no interest in cricket whatsoever. He is a soccer man, and bizarrely his team is not USA but Brazil, for reasons he was reluctant to explain. He also observed all speed limits, a true contrarian.”
A reporter on the spot reports that the pitch hasn’t been scuffed up as much as you’d expect from a Chennai pitch. Simon Doull’s take: “The openers will take it fairly easy up front and then consolidate in the middle and knock if off in the 43rd.” Just grabbing a coffee, please do send me your thoughts on this damp Friday afternoon in the UK. The New Zealand chase up imminently.
Thanks Taha, and hello! Switching on to an indifferently full stadium and Bangladesh down – but not out. A steady rebuilding effort from a perilous 56-4, but no real period of fireworks. You’d expect New Zealand to cruise this and tart up their already impressive NRR, but even the Black Caps can have a bad day at the office.
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That’ll be enough from me. Tanya Aldred’s here to take you through to the close.
New Zealand controlled that innings from the start, with Trent Boult removing Litton Das with the first ball of the match. Lockie Ferguson was particularly brilliant, taking 3-49 as his short ball caused all sorts of havoc, while Mitchell Santner was typically tidy, taking 1-31 from his 10 overs. Glenn Phillips and Matt Henry were among the wickets, too. Bangladesh, well, they just didn’t show much intent. Mushfiqur Rahim did a solid rebuild job with his 66, but the next-best effort was Mahmudullah at No.8 with an unbeaten 41. 245 doesn’t look like it’ll be enough, especially when you remember what New Zealand’s batters have been up to so far in this tournament.
New Zealand need 246 runs from 50 overs
50th over: Bangladesh 245-9 (Mahmudullah 41, Shoriful 2) Williamson, out of frontline options, turns to Daryl Mitchell for the last over of the innings. And Mahmudullah greets the first ball, a slower ball dug into the surface, with a smack down the ground for six! They run two with the next ball, and Mahmudullah, surprisingly, then allows for a single to give Shoriful the strike. The No.11 does his job, getting one immediately to bring Mahmudullah back. Another single follows and, well, they finish with a dot. Oops.
49th over: Bangladesh 234-9 (Mahmudullah 31, Shoriful 1) Boult bowls a half-volley and Mahmudullah finally nails it, swinging over the leg side for six. The last ball of the over is whipped away too, but falls short of the man at deep midwicket. 250 for Bangladesh?
WICKET! Mustafizur c Latham b Henry 4 (Bangladesh 225-9)
Mustafizur swats Henry high into the air, but the ball lands safely at long-off. But the Bangladesh No 10 is out next ball: short from Henry, and a bad-looking heave results in an edge into the skies. Latham cleans up.
48th over: Bangladesh 225-9 (Mahmudullah 23, Shoriful 0)
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47th over: Bangladesh 220-8 (Mahmudullah 21, Mustafizur 1) Mahmudullah doesn’t want to give The Fizz a go with the bat, but he keeps finding the fielder while trying to locate the boundary. He finally takes a single with the penultimate delivery of Boult’s over, and Mustafizur survives the rest.
46th over: Bangladesh 218-8 (Mahmudullah 20, Mustafizur 1) Bangladesh trudge away – this batting innings has been a tough watch, in all honesty.
WICKET! Taskin c Mitchell b Santner 17 (Bangladesh 214-8)
Santner, with the final ball of his parsimonious spell, gets a wicket. Ahmed sweeps hard and finds deep backward square leg. And I get to write c Mitchell b Santner! How exciting is that.
45th over: Bangladesh 214-8 (Mahmudullah 18, Mustafizur 0)
44th over: Bangladesh 213-7 (Mahmudullah 17, Taskin 17) Ferguson runs in for his last over, and Taskin just about weaves his bat away from a lifting delivery. A good shot from the tailender, driving a fuller delivery through the off side for a couple. And the over ends with a six – Ferguson goes short, but not short enough, and Taskin swings over the leg side. And my 210 prediction is predictably incorrect.
43rd over: Bangladesh 204-7 (Mahmudullah 16, Taskin 9) Santner is knocked about for four singles.
42nd over: Bangladesh 200-7 (Taskin 7, Mahmudullah 14) Nice shot from Mahmudullah, pulling Ferguson behind square for four to bring up 200. A bouncer that flies through is a fine retort from the quick.
41st over: Bangladesh 195-7 (Taskin 7, Mahmudullah 10) Taskin gets low to whack Ravindra over the leg side for six. Plenty of talk about the knuckleball on comms, and I’m rattling my head through the best ones I’ve seen. Archer bowled them at the last World Cup, Neil Wagner showed them off in Tests a few years ago. Any others out there who have excelled at it?
A breakdown of the Mushfiqur wicket, with Henry’s slower ball doing the job:
Matt Henry to Mushfiqur Rahim
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 13, 2023
Mushfiqur pulling the ball, expecting it to bounce like other deliveries of this length today, but a well disguised back of a length slower ball deceives the right-hander.
Henry's bowling speed today:
Average : 130kph
Wicket ball: 118kph#CWC2023 pic.twitter.com/m8TltXJFr2
40th over: Bangladesh 189-7 (Taskin 1, Mahmudullah 10) Short from Boult, and Mahmudullah, who hit a hundred against New Zealand at the 2015 World Cup, swivels away for one. All on him now to get Bangladesh something close to respectable as a total.
39th over: Bangladesh 185-7 (Mahmudullah 8, Taskin 0) Ravindra gets Mahmudullah’s outside edge, but there’s no slip and the ball runs away for four.
38th over: Bangladesh 180-7 (Taskin 0, Mahmudullah 3) How many can Bangladesh get? I reckon not much more than 210.
WICKET! Hridoy c Santner b Boult 13 (Bangladesh 180-7)
Knuckle ball from Boult and Hridoy chips to cover. Bangladesh are crumbling, and that’s 200 ODI wickets for the masterful left-armer.
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37th over: Bangladesh 179-6 (Mahmudullah 2, Hridoy 13) Santner, programmed to give pretty much nothing away, lets Bangladesh collect a few singles but no boundaries.
WICKET! Mushfiqur b Henry 66 (Bangladesh 175-6)
Lovely from Mushfiqur, who shuffles across his crease to scoop Henry to the fine-leg rope for four. But Henry has revenge: the ball keeps low to bowl Mushfiqur, who ends up on the ground after missing with his leg-side swipe. He played well, but Bangladesh needed him there for the long haul.
36th over: Bangladesh 175-6 (Hridoy 11, Mahmudullah 0)
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35th over: Bangladesh 168-5 (Hridoy 9, Mushfiqur 61) Just a gentle nudge on how long Mushfiqur’s been doing this for Bangladesh – he made his Test debut at Lord’s in May 2005. That’s right, he made his Test debut before Kevin Pietersen. Just one off the over, by the way.
34th over: Bangladesh 167-5 (Hridoy 8, Mushfiqur 61) Henry does his best Ferguson impression, bowling a short one to Hridoy, but it’s pulled away nicely for one. Six balls, six singles.
33rd over: Bangladesh 161-5 (Mushfiqur 58, Hridoy 5) No boundaries since Shakib’s dismissal, with Santner racing through another one – just two off it.
32nd over: Bangladesh 159-5 (Hridoy 4, Mushfiqur 57) Ferguson, probably a really nice fella, continues to deliver some nasty-lookin’ deliveries.
31st over: Bangladesh 156-5 (Hridoy 2, Mushfiqur 56) Ravindra continues, now with two right-handers to bowl at, which should please him. He concedes four singles.
30th over: Bangladesh 152-5 (Mushfiqur 54, Hridoy 0) Ferguson, brilliant today with his bumper, has 3-32 after seven overs.
WICKET! Shakib c Latham b Ferguson 40 (Bangladesh 152-5)
The electric Ferguson, still bowling in the ninties (mph) despite the heat and humidity, rushes onto Shakib – but it still goes for six! It’s a mis-hit, but it sails away over the leg side. And then the wicket! Another short ball, another attempted pull, but an edge goes high in the air this time and Latham runs around to his right to hold on.
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29th over: Bangladesh 145-4 (Mushfiqur 53, Shakib 34) Shakib’s got the helmet off, like he means business, and he goes down the pitch to loft Ravindra straight for four. And then another skip down – this time he clears the ropes at deep midwicket. The Bangladesh captain’s got a niggle, and he’s decided to whack it about.
Shakib needs a breather – he looks in a bit of pain. Time for drinks for the players, and a coffee for me.
28th over: Bangladesh 133-4 (Mushfiqur 52, Shakib 23) Shakib shows a desire to attack, but his flash outside off doesn’t result in contact as Ferguson whizzes one through. A no ball at the end of the over results in a free hit, but Mushfiqur can’t get the bumper away.
Fifty for Mushfiqur!
A 52-ball half-century for Mushfiqur, who cuts Ferguson behind point again, this time for four. He now needs Shakib to join in on the fun.
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27th over: Bangladesh 126-4 (Mushfiqur 47, Shakib 22) Ravindra runs through his six very quickly, just two coming off it.
26th over: Bangladesh 124-4 (Shakib 21, Mushfiqur 46) Ferguson thunders through and Mushfiqur, even with his eye in, struggles to lay a bat on him. But after five dots… a six! Short, wide and the ball is cut behind point, going all the way. Shot.
25th over: Bangladesh 118-4 (Mushfiqur 40, Shakib 21) Mushfiqur sweeps Ravindra, but not cleanly, collecting two for his efforts. We’re halfway through the innings and Bangladesh could do with speeding things up now.
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24th over: Bangladesh 114-4 (Shakib 20, Mushfiqur 37) Ian Bishop and Michael Atherton run through Boult’s bag of tricks on TV – the stock ball, off-cutter and knuckle ball all in his possession. Just a lovely bowler, isn’t he, up there with Shaheen Afridi and Mitchell Starc as one of the best left-arm quicks in the world today.
23rd over: Bangladesh 110-4 (Mushfiqur 35, Shakib 18) Rachin Ravindra, who’s doing plenty with the bat at the moment, gets a go with the ball. Four singles off it.
22nd over: Bangladesh 106-4 (Shakib 16, Mushfiqur 33) Boult is back, and he gets an edge off Mushfiqur, but the ball flies high to the right of Latham and away for four.
21st over: Bangladesh 100-4 (Shakib 15, Mushfiqur 28) Santner mixes up his speeds beautifully, but Shakib finally says enough is enough and skips down the pitch to thwack straight for four.
20th over: Bangladesh 93-4 (Mushfiqur 26, Shakib 10) Very tidy from Mushfiqur, who delicately guides a cutter from Henry to third man for four – Chapman nearly pulled off a terrific save. Shakib finally cuts loose, pulling Henry away for four.
19th over: Bangladesh 83-4 (Shakib 5, Mushfiqur 21) Santner keeps on twirling and Shakib remains patient, currently on 5 off 21.
18th over: Bangladesh 81-4 (Mushfiqur 20, Shakib 4) Shakib and Mushfiqur – who both hit half-centuries when Bangladesh beat India at the 2007 (!!!!!) World Cup – content with knocking it about for singles for now.
Numbers, very pretty ones:
Lockie Ferguson's pace.
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 13, 2023
One of only three seamers in #CWC2023 to average over 140kph, his two wickets today were both pace on.
Dismissal of Tanzid Hasan: 144kph
Dismissal of Mehidy Hasan Miraz: 143kph
17th over: Bangladesh 78-4 (Mushfiqur 18, Shakib 3) Santner applies the squeeze, delivering a maiden to Shakib.
16th over: Bangladesh 78-4 (Shakib 3, Mushfiqur 18) Matt Henry is back for his second spell, and singles are exchanged as Bangladesh collect four off it.
Alistair Connor writes in: “So, Lockie Ferguson has a ‘moustache he most certainly pulls off’ - are you implying it’s stuck on? But seriously… he’s chucking them well today!” All I’m saying is that I’d love to have a mo’ like that.
“Nice to have our skipper back… How long can NZ’s dream run continue ? The short answer is another nine days, until India. But the unbeaten top four start playing each other from tomorrow, so … nobody knows anything.”
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15th over: Bangladesh 73-4 (Shakib 1, Mushfiqur 15) A no ball as Phillips accidentally strikes the stumps at the non-striker’s end while bowling – a nod to Steve Finn. Mushfiqur gets a hold of one, sweeping Phillips over deep midwicket for six. And then a really tidy reverse-sweep that runs away for four.
14th over: Bangladesh 61-4 (Shakib 0, Mushfiqur 5) Mushfiqur looks like he wants to leave the ball, but gloves Ferguson down the leg side for four. Ferguson, in his usual get-up – black school shoes to go with a moustache he most certainly pulls off – is bowling serious heat.
13th over: Bangladesh 57-4 (Mushfiqur 1, Shakib 0) Williamson making all the right calls out there. He saw two left-handers out there, immediately called for Phillips to turn it past the outside edge, and it’s worked a treat. Mushfiqur, another veteran, is out there with Shakib.
WICKET! Shanto c Conway b Phillips 7 (Bangladesh 56-4)
Glenn Phillips is called in and he gets Shanto with his first ball! Fires in an off-spinner and Shanto tries to tuck it into the leg side – but lobs an edge to the man diving forward at short midwicket. Bangladesh are in all sorts.
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12th over: Bangladesh 56-3 (Shanto 7, Shakib 0) Up to Shakib now to sort this mess out – and Ferguson greets him with a 90.7mph bouncer.
WICKET! Hasan Miraz c Henry b Ferguson 30 (New Zealand 56-3)
Ferguson starts the over at a cool, breezy 91mph. 90.8 the next ball, 91.7 with his third, which is called a wide. And then, after a dot, a wicket! Sharp, short and Mehidy can only help it towards fine leg. Ferguson’s bowling serious heat, and New Zealand are in control.
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11th over: Bangladesh 55-2 (Hasan Miraz 30, Shanto 7) Shanto clips Santner down the leg side to collect his first boundary of the day.
10th over: Bangladesh 46-2 (Hasan Miraz 28, Shanto 0) A half-shout from New Zealand as Ferguson fires a bumper past Mehidy and into the gloves of Latham. The right-hander then drives behind point for four the next ball – he’s looking in very decent touch, particularly through the off side.
“Good Morning Taha,” writes Krishnamoorthy V. “Any updates on the crowd? So far, this WC has been witnessing near empty of half empty stadiums.” I’m watching off the telly so all I can confirm is that it definitely ain’t full.
9th over: Bangladesh 41-2 (Hasan Miraz 23, Shanto 0) Santner’s left-arm tweakers enter the game – and he concedes just one.
WICKET! Tanzid c Conway b Ferguson 16 (Bangladesh 40-2)
The first change of the day: Lockie Ferguson arrives to crank it up, replacing Henry. Hasan Miraz guides to third man for a single – and it’s a no-ball too. Tanzid can’t get any bat on the bouncer as New Zealand escape without any damage from the free hit. More dots follow and Ferguson strikes with the final ball of the over! He goes around the wicket and Tanzid clips to the catching man at square leg. A bit too easy that for New Zealand.
8th over: Bangladesh 40-2 (Hasan Miraz 22, Shanto 0)
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7th over: Bangladesh 38-1 (Hasan Miraz 21, Tanzid 16) Boult calms things down – just one off it.
6th over: Bangladesh 37-1 (Hasan Miraz 20, Tanzid 16) Henry follows up two dots with a sharp bumper – but Mehidy responds well off the next delivery, punching through point for three. The ball’s coming nicely onto the bat, which makes it all the more stranger that Litton skipped down the pitch first ball to make good contact. Tanzid then plays the shot of the day, driving along the carpet through mid-off for four.
5th over: Bangladesh 30-1 (Tanzid 12, Hasan Miraz 17) Tanzid gloves a pull shot over the keeper’s head for four. The left-hander then finally finds the middle by skipping down the pitch to hit Boult past mid-off for four more.
4th over: Bangladesh 22-1 (Tanzid 4, Hasan Miraz 17) Mehidy drives a Henry half-volley through the covers for four – beaut. He tries to leave the next ball but gets a tickle off the bat – gets away with it, though. The final ball of the over is squeezed past point for a couple.
3rd over: Bangladesh 16-1 (Hasan Miraz 11, Tanzid 4) Mehidy pushes at the ball and gets an edge that evades slip and runs away for four. Boult not at his electric best just yet, firing in a full toss at Mehidy. The Bangladesh all-rounder is in my fantasy team, as is Boult, so this duel is throwing up a lot of complicated emotions for me.
2nd over: Bangladesh 10-1 (Hasan Miraz 6, Tanzid 4) Cracking shot from Mehidy, who punches Henry through the off side for four.
1st over: Bangladesh 5-1 (Hasan Miraz 1, Tanzid 4) Boult gets some nice shape into the right-hander as Mehidy Hasan Miraz emerges at No. 3. He gets a single with his second ball, bringing Tanzid on strike. Ooooh, I think he gets a tickle down the leg side but Latham can’t hold on – that would’ve been a stunner.
Watching a replay of that wicket – it was a really good catch from Henry, who leapt high to hold on.
WICKET! Das c Henry b Boult 0 (Bangladesh 0-1)
Hot and humid out there, says Atherton, as Litton Das takes guard and Trent Boult gets ready to bowl. Here we go – and it’s OUT FIRST BALL! Das clips straight to Matt Henry at fine leg!
Das went to attack and got a meaty connection on it, but the ball flew straight to Henry. New Zealand are loving life at the moment.
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The anthems are done. Let’s get this show going.
Great to see the return of Williamson. Seemed like he wasn’t going to make this tournament when he did his ACL in March while playing in the IPL. He sat out of the first two games but did bat in the warm-ups, hitting a half-century against Pakistan.
2019's Player of the Tournament is ready to make a splash in 2023 👊
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 13, 2023
How will he go this World Cup? #NZvBAN | #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/nk5xj78s94
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Notable that New Zealand haven’t included their leggie, Ish Sodhi, while Bangladesh have opted for batting depth with part-time tweaker Mahmudullah replacing the specialist, Mahedi Hasan. Perhaps both teams think spin won’t have as much an impact as expected.
Bangladesh’s XI: Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman
New Zealand’s XI:
Kane Williamson wins the toss on international return and opts to bowl in Chennai against @BCBtigers. Into the XI for Will Young. Follow play LIVE in NZ with @skysportnz. LIVE scoring | https://t.co/aNkBrDiAuv #CWC23 #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS pic.twitter.com/apeOlB2444
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) October 13, 2023
Team changes: Williamson replaces Will Young, while Mahmudullah comes in for Mahedi – didn’t expect that one.
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New Zealand win the toss and will field first
Kane Williamson – yeah, that’s right, he’s back! – is out there for the toss with Shakib Al Hasan and Athers. Williamson tosses and wins it – New Zealand will bowl first.
Preamble
Hello, hello, hello! Welcome to coverage of this World Cup clash between New Zealand and Bangladesh at Chennai.
The Black Caps, those guys you always forget are really, very good, have been busy being very good. England were absolutely demolished in the tournament opener and Mitchell Santner collected five as the Netherlands were swept aside in their second game. They’re looking the business and would love to go three for three here.
Bangladesh, the guys who are always threatening to have a breakout tournament, kicked off with a six-wicket win over Afghanistan but couldn’t deal with Dawid Malan and Reece Topley at Dharamasala. They’ll look to their tweakers - Shakib, Mehidy and Mahedi - for inspo.
I’ll be here to keep all of you company for the first half of the innings, with play to begin at 9:30am BST.
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