7.50pm The tournament has sprung to life with Pakistan toppling SA, SL toppling India, and Bangladesh knocking out New Zealand. Bangladesh, though, will be knocked out if Australia beat England. Bangladesh could sneak in if it's a washout tomorrow (by virtue of more wins). Today was fun. Hope you enjoyed the coverage as much as we did bringing it to you. I will leave you with some magic from Isam and Sid Monga: Red sun rising. Until next time, goodbye and good night from myself, Varun, and Raghav.
7.30pm Unbridled joy for Bangladesh, agony for New Zealand. The camera pans out to the victorious captain - Mashrafe repeatedly punches the air in delight. Mashrafe, now Bangladesh's captain, was 21 years old when Bangladesh toppled Australia in Cardiff 12 years ago. Ashraful was the architect of that epic win. Shakib and Mahmudullah now. Bangladesh's players take a lap of honour and acknowledge their fans. Great scenes in Cardiff!
What makes this sweeter is that they have won it from the depths of 33 for 4. Their big gun Tamim was swung out for a duck. Sarkar, Sabbir, and Mushfiq, the birthday boy, also departed cheaply. Mahmudullah and Shakib then responded with a massive 224-run stand - the highest ever for any wicket for Bangladesh in ODI cricket. Shakib was bowled with his side nine away from victory, but Mossadek, who had stifled New Zealand with three wickets in the slog overs in the first innings, sealed the deal.
Mashrafe: It is a great feeling. Both times I have been here. I still remember 2005 against Australia and now against New Zealand. Overall, we are very much satisfied. First match we were not up to the mark with the ball. Today, the bowlers hit the right areas. Mosaddek's three wickets was crucial. Neesham and Corey got out to him in New Zealand. Once the left-hander came, I went to the offspinner. The way Shakib and Mahmudullah batted was out of the world for me. We had the confidence once we beat New Zealand in Ireland. We are feeling great right now.
Williamson: To be fair, we thought that was a scrappy total to get. The boys were outstanding with the new ball, but saying that it was a long way away from a perfect performance. The partnership under Shakib and Mahmudullah under pressure was outstanding. 285-290 would have been a par total. Bangladesh now have a chance to make the semi-final.
Mahmudullah: I think the best part was we did not talk too much. We were just batting and just wanted to be positive. Early on it was swinging. Once it stopped swinging, it was easier to bat on. I think Tamim batted superbly in his tournament. Losing him early on was a bit of a shock. Shakib and me just wanted to hit the gaps and put the bad balls away.
Shakib, Man of the Match: As Mahmudullah said we did not talk. We did not want to chase that down. We just wanted to bat 40 overs and see where we were. Winning a match in a ICC tournament in a big thing. From hereon, we can only go forward.
Ben: "Just imagine the scenes in Dhaka and Chittagong..."
gautam: "the fact that no one has called this win against the world cup finalists an 'upset' yet shows how much bangladesh has evolved"
Aquil: "Two icebergs finally sink the BLACK CAPS titanic"
giri: "That partnership reminded me of yuvi/kaif in natwest final. Well done Bangladesh. Well deserved"
END OF OVER:47 | 15 Runs 1 Wkt | BAN: 264/5 (2 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 5.61, RRR: 0.66)
- Mahmudullah102 (107b)
- Mosaddek Hossain3 (2b)
- Trent Boult10-0-48-1
- Adam Milne9-0-54-1
Mahmudullah two shy of three figures
Here is Mosaddek. Can the man who set it up sew it up for Bangladesh?
Shakib Al Hasan b Boult 114 (184m 115b 11x4 1x6) SR: 99.13
17 needed off 24 balls
END OF OVER:46 | 9 Runs | BAN: 249/4 (17 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 5.41, RRR: 4.25)
- Shakib Al Hasan106 (112b)
- Mahmudullah98 (106b)
- Adam Milne9-0-54-1
- Trent Boult9-0-33-0
Chants of "one more run! one more run"! rings around Cardiff
The field has been whisked in
Siddharth: "One of the rare partnerships I've seen where both the batsmen are dominating the bowling equally well. There is no one batsman outplaying the other..There is no one batsman playing a second fiddle to the other. Brilliant by these two. Brilliant by Bangladesh"
Nayeem: "This man Mahmudullah always plays well in crunch games, always a dependable batsman for Bangladesh, yet he sometimes finds his place in the team in jeopardy, recently he lost his place from the test team, what a pity for him! " --- Williamson slowing things down. Taking time to set his fields. Milne runs in from around the wicket. Loses his footing. Boos from the Bangladesh fans in Cardiff
END OF OVER:45 | 8 Runs | BAN: 240/4 (26 runs required from 30 balls, RR: 5.33, RRR: 5.20)
- Shakib Al Hasan98 (108b)
- Mahmudullah98 (104b)
- Trent Boult9-0-33-0
- James Neesham4-0-30-0
Aimee: "What an amazing Birthday gift by these two for Mushfiqur :)"
Boult. Last fling of the dice for Williamson?
END OF OVER:44 | 7 Runs | BAN: 232/4 (34 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 5.27, RRR: 5.66)
- Shakib Al Hasan92 (103b)
- Mahmudullah97 (103b)
- James Neesham4-0-30-0
- Tim Southee9-1-45-3
Over the wicket