A morale booster

Bangladesh romped to a two-wicket victory against New Zealand in a Cricket World Cup build-up match on Tuesday to throw cautions to the wind ahead of cricket's showpiece event in the West Indies.

Fortunately, New Zealand were spared from the blushes of losing their first ever one-day international to the Tigers as all the warm-up matches will not be put into the record book.

Yet, it was enough for opening celebrations for Habibul Bashar's men and take inspiration from a stunning success, having lost all previous matches against the Kiwis.

"It was a very good win and naturally we are pleased. It's a stepping stone in the right direction," Bangladesh captain Bashar reflected on the victory in the first official warm-up game at the Three Ws Oval in Cave Hill, Barbados.

Bangladesh folded their opponents for 226 and then reached the target with one over and two wickets to spare, thanks to an amazing all-round performance by Mashrafe Bin Mortaza who played a cameo 13-ball 30 not out after bagging four wickets for 44.

"We bowled really well and then had a wonderful opening partnership, which was much-needed. We thought it was a 'gettable' total but we needed a good opening partnership -- and we got it. That was very important. We knew, if we could keep wickets in hand, we could win the game," said the most successful Bangladesh skipper showing praises on 70-run opening stand between Tamim Iqbal and Javed Omar.

After the Tigers expected wins against Bermuda, their one of Group B opponents besides two subcontinent giants India and Sri Lanka, and Canada in the Caribbean the whispering was remained whether Dav Whatmore charges was only good enough against the minnows but anybody can set aside the word 'doubt' for few days after their victory against the formidable Black Caps.

Bangladesh definitely will go for an all-win record before launching the campaign in the mega event when they play their second and final warm-up game against Scotland, whom they recently defeated twice at home, today.
Branding his opponents a 'tricky side', New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming also heaped praise on Bashar's men performance.

"I always think they are an awkward side. They do the basics well, and Dav Whatmore is a good coach. They've played a lot of international cricket now, have some players with experience and are going to be a tricky side," said the left-hander who made a duck in the match.

"It was a poor performance. It was a day when nothing went right. We batted poorly at the beginning and did not assess conditions that well. We knew it was going to be tricky at the start and we fell flat on our faces," said Fleming as he explained the reason behind the defeat.

"Then we bowled tentatively at the start. We kept clinging on in the field – but we just couldn't shake them. It was a great performance from them, and it gives us some problems going forward," he added.

The experienced campaigner also highly applauded the Tigers fielding effort to snatch the game from them.

"We were always there in the game. We fought back after a poor start and if we had reached 250, that would have been enough, we would have won the game. They fielded brilliantly, you saw the run out of Brendon McCullum, and they just kept coming at us. We just couldn't shake them," he said.
McCullum made 46 off 48 balls, but was run out after a rocket-like direct hit from Mortaza from the long-on fence. Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar praised his team for the good showing.

It was an unexpected setback for a team being touted as possible World Cup winners in the Caribbean but Fleming has a cheeky theory that New Zealand may have just improved their chances after all.

"Sometimes, when you are in a nice surrounding, you can get a little bit caught up and be too relaxed -- so this is a good wakener. It puts the pressure back on us but, if anything, we are better under pressure than having any favouritism tag or being talked about as potential winners. At least this wasn't a pool match," said a phlegmatic Fleming.