Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor scored fighting fifties in the do-or-die match against Bangladesh but the Bangladeshi bowlers displayed brilliant discipline to restrict the Black Caps for 265 for 8.
Kane Williamson’s decision to bat first was proved right to some extent early on with openers Martin Guptill and Luke Ronchi adding 46 runs in just 43 balls before the latter fell to Taskin Ahmed for 16. 23 runs later, Guptill also joined Ronchi in the dressing room after Rubel Hossain trapped him plumb for 33. Guptill’s dismissal brought together New Zealand’s most reliable batsmen- Williamson and Ross Taylor- on the crease and the duo not only steadied the ship by sharing a fifty-plus partnership.
However, the Bangladeshi bowlers kept things tight from their end, not allowing the batsmen to get easy runs and it finally culminated in Williamson’s run-out who was batting at 63 off 82 balls at that time. With the 83-run stand coming to an end in the worst possible manner and run-rate not promising, the onus was on Taylor to guide the Kiwis to a good total but the right-handed batsman also departed at a precarious position with the scorecard reading 201 in the 39th over. Taylor scored 57 off 69 balls.
Mosaddek Hossain then piled more misery on the Black Caps by dismissing Neil Broom (36) and Corey Anderson on consecutive deliveries, leaving New Zealand reeling at 229 for 6 in the 44th over. 11 runs later, Mosaddek Hossain struck once again, dismissing New Zealand’s last recognised batsman James Neesham for 23. The Kane Williamson-led side eventually finished their innings on 265.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the innings:
The @RossLTaylor and Kane Williamson combination has been phenomenally prolific for Nz over a number of years now. Pleasure to watch!!
— Brendon McCullum (@Bazmccullum) June 9, 2017
Remember the winner of this game #NZvBAN only stays alive, isn't guaranteed a semi-final. That depends on the result of #AUSvsENG.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 9, 2017
No Kane, No Gain..But Bangladesh earned that run out.. Top bowling and pressure in the previous overs.. Ross needs to Boss for 300+ #BANvNZ
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) June 9, 2017
Bangladesh have played just one international match in Cardiff before in which they beat Australia [in 2005]. Can they win again today?
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) June 9, 2017
What a spell by Mosaddek Hossain. Captaincy gold from Mashrafe. New Zealand's brittle middle order costing them again. #NZvBAN #CT17
— Muhammad Adeel Sabir (@iamadeelsabir) June 9, 2017
Kane Williamson last 4 ODI innings:
Run Out
Run Out
Caught
Run Out— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) June 9, 2017
Ross Taylor looks a different batsman with Kane Williamson batting at the other end. Once Kane is gone, Taylor mostly struggles #CT17
— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) June 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/nur95lodaya/status/873171986796642304
Taylor once again helps the other team more than NZ. #NZvBAN #CT17
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) June 9, 2017
Kane Williamson becomes the first player to make 4 consecutive 50+ scores in Champions Trophy – 67, 100, 87, 50*. #NZvBAN #CT17
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) June 9, 2017
Kane Williamson has been dismissed runout 7 times in ODIs. Out those of 7, he scored 50+ scores five times. 74, 60, 97, 100, 57. #NZvBAN
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) June 9, 2017
the potential middle order collapse waiting for Ross to get out like: pic.twitter.com/4MyGpElxB6
— Kane Williamson (@NotNossy) June 9, 2017