Kane Williamson made a successful comeback to international cricket, scoring a half-century, while Daryl Mitchell played a brilliant knock of 89 runs off just 67 balls as New Zealand defeated Bangladesh by eight wickets in the ICC World Cup. This win was New Zealand’s third consecutive victory in the tournament, helping them secure the top spot in the points table for the 2023 Cricket World Cup, pushing South Africa to the second position. Despite the loss, Bangladesh remained in the sixth spot in the table.
Williamson, playing his first match of the tournament after recovering from a knee injury, showcased his class with his calculated batting approach, scoring 78 runs from 107 balls. Mitchell, on the other hand, played aggressively, hitting boundaries at will to secure victory for his team with 43 balls to spare. Williamson hit eight fours and a six, while Mitchell smashed six fours and four sixes.
Bangladesh, after being asked to bat first, could only manage a score of 245 for nine. Mushfiqur Rahim top-scored with 66 runs, and notable contributions from Shakib al Hasan and Mahmudullah helped Bangladesh recover from a poor start. However, their efforts were not enough against New Zealand’s disciplined bowling, with Lockie Ferguson picking up three wickets and Trent Boult taking two wickets.
New Zealand’s victory was never in doubt, as they chased down the target comfortably. The win propelled them to the top of the points table, further strengthening their position in the tournament.
