Champions Trophy: Shakib-Mahmudullah guide Bangladesh to victory over New Zealand

Chasing a target of 266, Bangladesh started off miserably and was reduced to 33/4 at one stage. However, the partnership between Shakib and Mahmudullah brought them back into the game and steered the team to seal a victory.

Though Shakib got out at 114 (115) towards the end of the match, Mahmudullah remained unbeaten at 102 (107) to help his team to reach the target with three overs to spare.

Shakib hit 11 fours and a big six in his innings, while Mahmudullah smashed eight fours and two sixes in different parts of the field.

Despite a good start with the ball, New Zealand bowlers looked helpless in front of the mammoth partnership of 224 runs between Shakib and Mahmudullah for the fifth wicket, as they failed to get a breakthrough.

When Shakib was dismissed by Trent Boult while he was batting at 114, it was too late for the black caps to return to the match.

Tim Southe had the best bowling figure for New Zealand with 3/45 from nine overs.

Earlier, winning the toss and opting to bat first, both the openers of New Zealand gave a decent start to the team and later the two fifties from the skipper Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor helped the Kiwis to push for a bigger score.

While Williamson scored 57 from 69 balls, Taylor got out at 63.

After the fall of Neil Broom who was batting at 36, the NZ batting lost their wickets back to back and could manage to score only 265.

The Bangladesh bowlers were absolutely spot on, partiularly Mosaddek Hossain Saikat who clinched three wickets for 13, bowling just three overs.

Apart from Hossain, Taskin Ahmed picked up two wickets while Mustafizur Rahman and Rubel Hossain shared one each.

With this win, Bangladesh stay in the hunt to reach the semis of the tournament.

Image: Official Facebook page of ICC.