Cornered Tigers Packed Kiwis Back Home. Bangladesh Vs New Zealand Played at Sofia Garden, Cardiff.

New Zealand 265/8 (LRPL Taylor 63, KS Williamson 57, NT Broom 36, MJ Guptill 33, Mosaddeq Hossain 3/13, Taskin Ahmed 2/43) Lost to Bangladesh 268/5 (Shakib Al Hasan 114, Mahmudullah Riad 102*, TG Southee 3/45 ) by 5 wickets.

Two great news came from the UK today. In the morning we were delighted hearing three proud Bangladeshi UK girls Tulip Siddique, Roshan Ara and Rupa Huq got re –elected into British parliament. At early morning here in Brisbane Australia we have eye-witnessed on Television yet another amazing Bangladesh victory in ODI Cricket Cornered Bengal Tigers chased the Kiwis fly back home from Cardiff. In a do or die match Bangladesh were stuttering at 33/4 responding to 265 /8 posted by New Zealand batting first on a double paced tricky wicket. Never say die fearless tigers riding on a spectacular counter-attacking milestone setting 224 runs 5^th wicket partnership between sizzling Shakib and majestic Mahmudullah handed over return ticket back home from the group of death. Bangladesh won by 5 wickets. With 3 points from 2 matches, Bangladesh is now second in points table behind leader England. Tomorrow host England plays Australia. There are three possible results – an English Win, Australia win or a rain interfered point sharing. Bangladesh would play in the semi -final of ICC Champions trophy unless Australia wins.

12 years from now in Cardiff when another marvelous Bangladesh performance saw team Tigers winning against mighty Australians it was considered a major upset. Last evening in the same venue when team Tigers again knocked out strong New Zealand only survivor of that victorious Bangladesh team Mashrafee was Tiger leader. He himself bowled well, changed his bowling with intelligence, took a masterpiece decision of bowling his part time off spinner Mosaddeq successfully on the last power play. His team restricted Kiwis to 265/8 in allotted overs by superb bowling and fielding. The wicket was a little double paced. When Bangladesh started response the condition changed dramatically. For the first time in the tournament, the ball started swinging in the air and seaming off the wicket. Tim Southee and Trent Boult are top operators in such conditions. Southee delivered three special deliveries removing Tamim, Sabbir, and Soumya for only 12 on board. Reliable Mushfique was also picked up soon by Mline by another good delivery. Tigers were cornered at 33/4.Shakib was joined at the wicket by Riad. Bangladesh had to fight back to the back to salvage the team from near ruins. From then on what happened may sound fairy tale in cricket. The two proceeded smoothly rotating strikes and punishing bad deliveries striking eye-catching strikes across the boundaries or over and above it. They proceeded hands in hand matching strokes for strokes. Both, however, were passing through a bad patch. Considered from their prolific records their Champions Trophy so far was pretty ordinary. But on this day on a difficult wicket, they batted brilliantly. When Shakib got out scoring 114 off 115 deliveries with 11 fours and a six Bangladesh was within 9 runs of victory. Mahmudullah remained not out on 102 which he scored from 107 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes. It was a wonderful exhibition of high-quality batting display. Bangladesh won huge and handsome by 5 wickets.  224 runs 5^th wicket partnership set a new Bangladesh record at any wicket in ODI eclipsing 178 runs partnership record earlier held back Tamim and Mushfique against Pakistan in 2015. Shakib scored his 7^th ODI century and Riad his 3^rd. New Zealand which reduced Bangladesh to 33/4 by 12^th over had to digest a 5 wickets defeat. It is the second time in few weeks’ time team Tigers won against New Zealand after the win in the Tri-Nation tournament in Ireland. Bangladesh carried its ascending quality in ODI to yet higher level.

🎥⭐ Star Performer: @Sah75Official blasted 114 off 115 deliveries, helping guide the @BCBtigers to an historic victory #NZvBAN #CT17 pic.twitter.com/9eltt6Md6f

— ICC (@ICC) ৯ জুন, ২০১৭

Earlier opting to bat New Zealand found a different Bangladesh bowling and fielding enthusiastically. Bangladesh appeared with 4 pacers on a wicket which appeared a little bit of double pace. Captain Mashrafee bowled on the tight channel as usual. But Mustafiz was a bit expensive in his first spell. Guptill was in a punishing mood. Taskin playing his first match of the tournament bowled fast and with penetration. When Taskin and Rubel were bowling well in Tandem Bangladesh bowling appeared clicking for the first time. Taskin removed Ronchi and Rubel accounted for Guptill bringing in two quality Kiwi batsmen Williams and Taylor at the wicket at 69 /2. All Bangladesh bowlers bowled to a plan and Mashrafee shuffled them well keeping his pacers fresh in short spells. Shakib also tightened his length. The lucky break was Williamson getting run out after putting on 83 runs on the 3^rd wicket partnership with Taylor. Williamson scored 57. Taylor and Broom put on another 48 for the fourth wicket. But by then accurate bowling and tight fielding kept Kiwis on the check. Taskin getting Taylor out triggered a middle order collapse of the Kiwis once again. From 3/201 in the 39^th over Kiwis could manage only 65 in 11 overs losing 5 wickets. Mashrafee surprisingly brought in his part time off spinner Mosaddeq on the last power play. He immediately struck gold taking 3 quick wickets. Mashrafee himself, Mustafiz and Rubel also bowled tight overs restricting New Zealand to 265/8 which once thought to reach 300 or there about. Mosaddeq got 3/13 in 3 overs and Taskin took 2/ 43.

In innings break judging from the condition of the wicket and in consideration of Kiwi bowling strength analysts were considering New Zealand favorites. The sun shined and ball suddenly started swinging in the air and was moving off the seam. Southee removed inform Tamim on the second ball of the innings trapping him with a beautiful in swinger. Tamim unsuccessfully used up the challenge. So when Soumya also got out to an almost similar delivery no DRS was available. The ball tracking evidenced that it would have missed the stumps. In between Shabbir fell to a brute of a delivering swinging late. Bangladesh was 3/12 by the 5^th over. Reliable Mushfique was also cleaned up soon by Mline making it 4/33. From then on Shakib –Riad majestic batting amazingly carried Bangladesh to a historic win.

This win at Cardiff brought the sweet memory of beating formidable Australia in 2005 when another Bangladesh icon Mohammad Ashraful scored a century and the then young Mashrafee got the wicket of Adam Gilchrist early.

Bangladesh in the ongoing Champions Trophy yesterday for the first time looked like a true champion team worthy of challenging the best of the best in all departments. Bowling was purposeful, fielding was sharp and batting was superb. Forget about the first 4 wickets falling to top quality bowling. Team recovering from almost disaster and turning the table on the superior team is an emerging cricket character of the team. We were confident that Shakib and Raid would bounce back to their superlative form sooner or later. They are world class performers. Shakib proved yet again his credential as a top all-rounder. Mahmudullah answered his critics with a wonderful display. He must bat at a higher order. His ideal position is number three. Sabbir will not succeed against quality opposition on difficult wickets at number three regularly for his suspect foot works.

Sourav Ganguly and Nasir Hossain were repeatedly asking why Mahmudullah in Bangladesh team bats at number six? The form is temporary and class is permanent. Bangladesh does not have too many better players than Mahmudullah playing in the top order. Believe it or not, he was about to be flown home for the temporary loss of form. Hope the team management would have their eyes opened.

He scored his first ODI century since #CWC15, and @Mahmudullah30 thanks the fans who cheered him along the way! #NZvBAN #CT17 pic.twitter.com/YnhIa5nrjP

— ICC (@ICC) ৯ জুন, ২০১৭

New Zealand’s Champions Trophy mission is over. The possibilities of Bangladesh moving ahead now hangs on what happens tomorrow in England-Australia match. Bangladesh will go through to semi-final if England win or rain becomes the player of the match tomorrow.

World cricket has witnessed three wonderful matches over the last three days. It all started with Pakistan beating South Africa in a rain-interrupted match on Duckworth & Lewis calculation. Sri Lanka won against defending champions India is a spectacular run chase creating a new equation in the group. And yesterday that trend went on. Who knows what will be in store tomorrow.

In the pre-tournament preview India, South Africa, England and Australia were considered firm favorites.  But now when the final round of group matches has started only England has confirmed a berth. Two of the other three favorites may have to exit.