HAMILTON, New Zealand : Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah made the most of being dropped at slip after scoring just one run to register his second one-day century in a World Cup Pool A match against New Zealand today. After Bangladesh had been put into bat, Mahmudullah (128 not out) batted with increasing authority to steer his team to a challenging 288 for seven and ensure they became the first team to bat through their 50 overs against the unbeaten co-hosts. Both sides have already qualified for the quarter-finals. At the start of the day-night match, the Bangladesh batsmen could hardly lay bat on ball as Tim Southee and Trent Boult swung the ball late on a hot, humid afternoon after steady rain had soaked Seddon Park yesterday.
Boult sent down three successive maidens then clean bowled Imrul Kayes for two, the batsman playing forward to a full delivery.
Tamin Iqbal turned Boult off his legs for the first boundary of the game but then edged another full delivery to Corey Anderson at second slip and was out for 13. In Southee’s next over Mahmudullah was dropped by Anderson and the ball flew to the boundary.
Mahmudullah and Soumya Sarkar then decided to attack and Boult conceded 17 runs off his seventh over after giving up just 19 in his previous six.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, as he has done frequently during the tournament, turned to Daniel Vettori to exert some control and the tall left-arm spinner responded by restricting the batsmen to singles.
He followed up by dismissing left-hander Sarkar, caught for 51 after he had completed his maiden one-day international half-century.
Shakib Al-Hasan, captaining Bangladesh in place of the rested Mashrafe Mortaza, struck 23 off 18 balls before he was caught behind off Anderson and Mushfiqur Rahmin followed in identical fashion for 15.
Sabbir Rahman smacked three boundaries off a Southee over and Mahmudullah continued to prosper with Mitchell McClenaghan, who replaced the injured Adam Milne, bearing the brunt of the punishment.
Mahmdullah dabbed the left-arm paceman into the covers for two to reach his century from 111 deliveries and McCullum brought Grant Elliott on to bowl.
Sabbir hit his first ball for six but was caught by McCullum for 40 from the next ball to end a spirited partnership. (AGENCIES)
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