KIMBERLEY, South Africa - Bangladesh produced a late flurry of runs to post a total of 198-7 from 50 overs in their World Cup Group B match against New Zealand on Wednesday (South African time).
Captain Khaled Mashud made an unbeaten 35 and Mohammad Rafique 41, the pair sharing anunbroken run-a-ball partnership of 70 for the eighth wicket.
Mohammad Ashraful top-scored with 56, the 18-year-old opener becoming the first Bangladesh batsman to reach fifty in the tournament before top-edging a return catch to fast bowler Shane Bond.
Earlier Mashud won the toss and elected to bat, but were soon in trouble when Hannan Sarkar edged a catch to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum off Bond. Bangladesh was 19-1.
Jacob Oram struck immediately, knocking out Sanwar Hossain's off stump and then forcing Habibul Bashar to edge a catch to McCullum as he tried to pull a short ball. Ashraful was badly dropped by Chris Cairns at deep square leg off Oram.
Alok Kapali pulled weakly at Andre Adams and gave Bond a simple catch to make the score 71-4.
Ashraful reached his fifty, including a six and five fours.
New Zealand began to get on top by getting rid of a number of Bangladesh batsmen. Bond forced Khan, on 13, to edge a catch to Stephen Fleming at slip. The score became 107-6 when Bond's pace made Ashraful top-edge an attempted pull and the fast bowler dived forward to take a good low catch. Oram returned to force Khaled Mahmud to edge a catch to McCullum for 12. With the score at 128-7, New Zealand looked like restricting Bangladesh to a small total. This was helped by spinner Daniel Vettori completing 10 miserly overs for 19 runs.
However, Bangladesh bounced back and Mashud and Rafique plundered 70 runs for the eight wicket. This included Rafique smashing Scott Styris for six in the final over of the innings.
