Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey

Bangladesh v New Zealand: 5 key talking points. BAN vs NZ: 5 key talking points from their CWC 2019 match.

Close game expected. Close game we saw.

If tense affairs make for excellent rivalries, then add another to the list. These two sides have had a number of close battles in the last decade, especially outside New Zealand. Think back to thrillers in Bangladesh in 2010. And 2013. Or the magnificent game in the 2017 Champions Trophy.

This was another game to remember, with New Zealand sneaking home by two wickets. Bangladesh, despite crucial and sometimes familiar mistakes, never gave up. After all, giving up is not an option with a skipper like Mashrafe Mortaza at the helm. New Zealand, in the end, became the first team to win two games at this year’s World Cup.

This close contest, so good for the tournament, delivered key talking points. Here are five.

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1. Wake up call for New Zealand

The Black Caps got home in the end. However, it should have never come so close.

Every team will fight as Bangladesh did, so you have to be on your game right till the end. A number of soft dismissals brought Bangladesh right back into the game, and when a side as dangerous as the Tigers get a sniff, they will go all in.

Ross Taylor was superb in his 400th international match for New Zealand, after openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro took risks trying to dominate the wily Shakib Al Hasan. Kane Williamson was not at his best as Bangladesh kept things tight, which sets a template for the other sides as to how dot balls can be built throughout the innings. The Black Caps got home in the end, but there are certainly areas to improve on before the big games continue to come.

2. Mushfiqur Rahim’s very costly miss

Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson put together yet another 100+ stand in ODI Cricket. Yesterday was their 12th, which is the most century partnerships for the third wicket in ODI history – two more than Kumar Sangakkara/Mahela Jayawardene and Eoin Morgan/Joe Root.

However, it should have remained at 11. Mushfiqur Rahim blew a run out chance in the 12th over with the score 61/2. He hit the stumps with his arms before the ball reached him. While Rahim didn’t miss the stumps, he certainly missed a huge opportunity to put Bangladesh well on top in the match. Bangladesh’s tails would have been right up and who knows what could have happened.

3. Shakib Al Hasan’s good record vs New Zealand + familiar Bangladesh mistakes

Shakib loves playing against New Zealand. It has remained the case for nearly a decade, nine years after picking up man of the series in a landmark 4-0 series win for the Tigers at home to New Zealand.

Here, he was placed under significant pressure from the Black Caps. With his first 35 balls yielding just 14 runs, Shakib had to remain calm. That he did, taking advantage of some loose bowling to score 50 off his next 33 balls. Sure, his batting average against New Zealand – 31.95 – doesn’t look out of this world. However, when you look at key innings played, including today and the 2017 CT, as well as 37 wickets in 22 matches at 25 apiece, Shakib continues to remain a thorn in New Zealand’s side.

His dismissal, though, came at a bad time. The Tigers were building momentum, reaching 151/3 with 20 overs left. Some sloppy batting, an achilles heel of the Tigers in recent years, meant they only reached 244 when 270+ was on the cards. Had it not been for Mohammad Saifuddin’s efforts, Bangladesh would have been out even earlier. It certainly proved very significant.

4. Tom Latham needs a big innings

Tom Latham’s dismissal – hitting a long hop straight to deep square leg – was poor for a player of his ability.

It begs the question – is New Zealand best served with Latham down at five? With Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor excellent platform-setters, New Zealand might want a little more proactive play following that. Tom Blundell was in terrific form in the Warm-up matches, and while Latham certainly deserves to play the next few matches at least, he has to perform. Otherwise, New Zealand will have a decision to make.

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5. Mitchell Santner: super calm

Shakib was excellent all-round for Bangladesh. So too Mohammad Saifuddin, who could very well be the pace-bowling all-rounder than Bangladesh have craved for years.

However, Mitchell Santner was also outstanding. His 1/41 with the ball brought some semblance of control back for New Zealand with Colin de Grandhomme, Jimmy Neesham and Lockie Ferguson (2nd spell) conceding runs quite quickly. He mixed his pace skillfully to finish with 1/41 off 10. Then, in a fantastic display of calmness, he took New Zealand home with the bat.

Santner, now getting into full swing after a heart-breaking ACL injury last year, is certainly a crucial player in New Zealand’s quest for World Cup glory.

The Bangladesh-New Zealand story is far from the end.

Another tight, tense ODI between the two sides made for a great watch, especially in a World Cup where big 300+ scores are expected to follow. New Zealand sit top of the table a week into the tournament, and should remain thereabouts with a game against Afghanistan next. Bangladesh have England on Saturday in what could be a very interesting game indeed.

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