In the World Cup of Cricket, New Zealand defeated Bangladesh by eight wickets on Friday thanks to 78 runs from Kane Williamson, who made his comeback from a long-term injury.
Following a major knee injury in April, Williamson participated in his first match since. He reached his total off 107 balls as New Zealand easily defeated Bangladesh's 245-9, scoring 248-2.
After victories over England and the Netherlands, it was the Black Caps' third straight victory in the tournament and they now sit atop the points table with six points.
Rachin Ravindra was selected ahead of Will Young, therefore he and Devon Conway started as the new opening pair for New Zealand. However, in the third over, Mustafizur Rahman caught Ravindra behind for just nine runs.
For the second wicket, Williamson and Conway then scored 80 runs off 105 balls. Conway outscored Williamson during their partnership, hitting three fours and making 45 off 59 balls in total. In the twenty-first over, he was out lbw to Shakib Al Hasan.
Williamson was joined by Daryl Mitchell, who batted at a quicker pace to advance the situation.
Before experiencing cramps and suffering injuries to his left thumb and knee, Williamson took his time and reached his half-century off 81 balls. As a result, he was doubtful for the following game. Williamson was out of the game with a score of 200-2 in the 39th over.
"We played well as a team," Williamson remarked. "In the middle overs, we were able to form partnerships, but we had to see through the new ball."
Mitchell struck six fours and four sixes en route to a half-century off just 43 balls. With 7.1 overs remaining, he and Glenn Phillips (16 not out) hit a blistering 48 off 27 balls to end the game quickly.
The victory was earlier set up by New Zealand's pacers, who took seven wickets apiece. With 349 runs in 10 overs, Lockie Ferguson was the highest scoring player. Trent Boult and Matt Henry each claimed two wickets.
After New Zealand put Bangladesh in to bat, Mushfiqur Rahim amassed 66 runs off of 75 balls.
Boult's golden duck dismissal of Litton Das gave the Tigers a bad start. Then, after scoring 40 runs for the second wicket, Ferguson struck twice to dismiss Tanzid Hasan (16) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (30).
In the course of 22 deliveries, the pair was discharged. Williamson then tried spin, and it functioned right away. Bangladesh was down to 56-4 when Najmul Hossian Shanto (7) chipped a catch off part-time spinner Glenn Phillips.
It brought veteran duo Rahim and captain Shakib Al Hasan together, and they revived the innings with 96 runs off 108 balls for the fifth wicket.
Rahim scored fifty with fifty balls. Shakib hit two sixes and three fours in his 40 off 51 balls. However, Ferguson returned to the attack and ended the partnership in the thirty-first over.
Bangladesh suffered a severe hit, as its bottom order crumbled as wickets kept falling at regular intervals.
Ferguson bowled exceptionally well and was fortunate, according to Williamson.
Bangladesh passed 200 runs when Mahmudullah scored 41 not out off 49 balls, however the team's final score was below average.
