Bangladesh v New Zealand at Colombo (SSC), 23 Sep 2002 CricInfo Live Report

Bangladesh v New Zealand at Colombo (SSC), 23 Sep 2002
Santhosh S

Pre-game: Toss & Teams,
New Zealand, Pool 1 innings: 25 Overs, End of Innings,
Bangladesh innings: End of Innings,

NEW ZEALAND ROUT BANGLADESH IN COLOMBO
Shane Bond is back! An inspired spell (5-0-21-4) of fast bowling from the premier Kiwi fast bowler destroyed Bangladesh, as they were shot out for just 77 in 19.3 overs. New Zealand won the game by 176 runs - Oram, Mills and Vettori picked up two wickets each.

Bond picked up four wickets for 15 runs in his first spell of four overs, and with Jacob Oram picking up two wickets from the other end, Bangladesh were reduced to 37/6 in the 8th over. There was no way Bangladesh was going to recover from the depths of despair. It was a combination of purposeful pace bowling and excellent catching behind the wickets, especially in the slips that triggered Bangladesh into a tailspin.

The men in black took charge of the game straight away in the afternoon; the very first ball of the Bangladesh innings could have produced a wicket. Bond's appeal for a leg before against Javed Omar, who had not offered a stroke, turned out to be futile, as he had over stepped. And a similar one followed that; not a no ball this time, and Asoka de Silva was once again reluctant to give it out.

For Al Shahriar this tournament is turning out to be a nightmare, after being dismissed for a second ball duck against Aussies, he was dismissed for a golden duck in the first over by Bond. Shahriar was guilty of not offering a stroke.

In the second over off the Bangladesh innings bowled by Oram, Nathan Astle took a stunning one-handed over-head catch at second slip, leaping in the air and grabbing it in his left hand. The best catch of the ICC Champions Trophy so far. And, that saw Omar (1) walk back to the pavilion.

Shane Bond took over from there, picking up three more wickets. Ashraful (1) was the next to go, Scott Styris taking a juggling catch at third slip off the bowling of Bond.

A supremely confident Fleming set a field with four slips and a gully. Alok Kapali (2) was brilliantly caught by Fleming at first slip; one-handed catch low to his left. Khaled Mashud (1) was caught behind by Vincent off Bond. Tushar Imran who had struck four boundaries to make 20 runs perished caught by Astle at second slip off the bowling of Oram.

It was bowling from the South End on this same track that Glenn McGrath had destroyed New Zealand with 5/37. Mills replaced Bond from the South End and tasted success, removing Khaled Mahmud (11) and Muntasir (5). Bangladesh were 56/8 in the 13th over.

Mohd Rafique and Manjural Islam put together 14 runs for the ninth wicket partnership. Rafique (17) was caught by Harris of Vettori with the Bangladesh total on 70. Islam (10) was bowled by Vettori.

NEW ZEALAND POST 244/9 AGAINST BANGLADESH
New Zealand batsmen failed to put up one enterprising partnership against a spirited Bangladesh team and finished with 244/9 in their allotted 50 overs. This has indeed set up an interesting Bangladesh run-chase, but New Zealand’s better experience at international level might come in handy to determine the final result.

Matt Sinclair was lucky not to be adjudged lbw off the bowling of Jubair, early in his innings. Asoka de Silva has been a reluctant umpire in this tournament when it comes to giving lbw decisions, and strangely he did not even consult the third umpire.

Sinclair took 99 balls to reach his half-century with the help of four boundaries. Soon, the fifth wicket partnership between Sinclair and Harris came to an end. They had added 48 runs to take New Zealand score to 167, when Harris (26 off 48 balls) got a little bit of glove, trying to sweep Ashraful, and was caught behind.

Sniclair and Jacob Oram took the score to 198 in the 45th over. Sinclair played a scintillating lofted extra cover drive off Ashraful, and that was the only golden moment in his knock. Sinclair’s innings of 70 off 122 balls (5 fours) came to an end when he tried to slog/sweep against the spin, and skied an easy catch to Rafique at mid-wicket. Ashraful was once again the successful bowler.

Oram then hit Muntasir straight down the ground for a huge six, the only one of the New Zealand innings, and then swung a full toss from Ashraful to the mid-wicket fence for four. Oram (30 off 27 balls) was in a hurry and paid the price for it, having a swipe at Ashraful to be caught by Tushar in the deep. New Zealand were seven down for 216 in the 47th over.

Daniel Vettori (16) and Shane Bond (8) got out in an effort to accelerate. At the end of the 50th over Kyle Mills (3*) and Paul Hitchcock (2*) were at the crease. Ashraful was easily the most successful bowler with the figures of 5-1-26-3.

NEW ZEALAND STUMBLE TO 120/4 IN COLOMBO
After being put in to bat, New Zealand are making heavy weather against the harmless Bangladesh bowling. At the end of the 25th over, New Zealand have lost four wickets in making 120 runs. Matthew Sinclair is unbeaten on 36 (69 balls, 4 fours) and Chris Harris is on one not out.

These days New Zealand batting depends heavily on the fortunes of one man – Nathan Astle. When Astle fails, the Kiwis struggle. It looked all good when Astle struck a boundary to the mid-wicket fence, off debutant 16-year-old Talha Jubair. That was the only piece of brilliance from Astle (5); he spanked a half volley from Manjural Islam straight into the hands of Alok Kapali at point.

New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming was extremely fortunate when his counterpart Khaled Mashud, standing behind the wicket, could only palm the ball away for four, which also Jubair his first ODI wicket.

Sinclair and Fleming added 66 runs for the second wicket partnership, almost at a run-a-ball. Both the batsmen looked very rusty indeed, Fleming in particular struggled with his footwork and hence the timing of the strokes.

Fleming made 31 off 40 balls (5 fours) and got out playing a rash shot, managing to scoop the ball to wide mid-off. The bowler was Khaled Mahmud and the catcher Jubair.

Two runs later, with the score on 79, new batsman Lou Vincent (1) nicked one to the keeper, gifting Mahmud his second wicket.

Scott Styris and Sinclair took the score to 119 in the 25th over, when disaster struck – in the form of a run out. The third umpire’s assistance was required to rule Styris (26 off 27 balls, 3 fours) out. It was again the young Jubair in action, sending in a good throw from backward square leg.

BANGLADESH WINS TOSS AND DECIDE TO FIELD
In the final pool game of the ICC Champions Trophy 2002, New Zealand have been put in to bat first after Bangladesh won the toss. It is a warm and sultry morning here at the SSC Ground in Colombo. The track once again looks a good one to bat on.

New Zealand as expected have brought in Paul Hitchcock. The players to miss out are Daryl Tuffey, Chris Nevin and Glenn Sulzberger.

Bangladesh have left out Tapash Baisya, Mazharul Haque, Mohammad Ashraful. Talha Jubair, the 16-year-old medium pacer makes his one-day international debut.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (Captain), Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, Chris Harris, Paul Hitchcock, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Matthew Sinclair, Scott Styris, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent.

Bangladesh: Javed Omar, Al Sahariar, Mohammad Ashraful, Fahim Muntasir, Tushar Imran, *+Khaled Mashud, Alok Kapali, Khaled Mahmud,Mohammad Rafique, Talha Jubair, Manjural Islam.

Umpires: EAR de Silva and DR Shepherd (Eng) TV Umpire: S Venkataraghavan (Ind) Match Referee: GR Viswanath (Ind)