Had Bangladesh won, this would have topped their win over South Africa to be the upset of the tournament, but they didn’t win. They got to within 2 wickets and it took New Zealand into the 48th over to get there, but there was no upset this time. Bangladesh’s win I ranked as the 7th greatest upset in World Cup history – Pakistan’s win over England was the 8th. This one probably would have made the top 5 had they done it. They nearly did, but not quite. Phew.
Be sure to check out our Pinch Hitter Power Rankings after Week One here.
Five Things We Learned:
(1) Mushfiqur Rahman just can’t string two innings together
He always seems to do this. He’ll get one incredible innings and the next match, almost as if he is still celebrating, he will fail. Bangladesh went with Shakib and Mushfiqur at 3 and 4 for the second match in a row and this time it failed. Oopsies. Maybe it’s better if they go back to their normal spots at 5 and 6. It’d be safer, at least.
(2) That 330 was the exception, not the rule
Bangladesh came crashing down to earth with not a complete failure so much as this is their normal first innings score. For Bangladesh, 244 is a good score. They were nearly able to defend it too. That 330 was their highest ever score by some margin, not the least because they are a bowling-heavy side.
(3) The Kane Williamson – Ross Taylor show just keeps going on
A casual 105 run partnership between the two, with Kane getting 40 and Ross 82 was just so normal and expected, even in this low-scoring affair, as the highest and second-highest scores of the innings. Only Shakib al Hasan’s 64 stopped them being the two highest scores of the match.
(4) Bangladesh can defend these low totals
Bangladesh like to bat first, put on a middling total, then defend it, and they nearly managed it here. 8 wickets fell. If not for Kane and Ross, they might have got there. Right at the end, just when New Zealand seemed to have wrapped it up, a bundle of wickets fell to give Bangladesh a sniff of a chance. Luckily, New Zealand bat deep and didn’t panic.
(5) Shakib al Hasan is the best all-rounder in the world
Backing up his match winning batting in the first match he returned with 64 off 68, the highest score for his team and second-highest overall, then came back with 2 for 47 with the ball, taking the wickets of both openers. He probably should have got the man of the match award, but for New Zealand winning. Had Bangladesh won, undoubtedly he would have. He was just about a one-man army in this match, as he so often is, but it was almost enough.
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