CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh, (Reuters) – Opener Imrul Kayes smashed an unbeaten 73 to help Bangladesh to a six-wicket win over Netherlands today, boosting the co-hosts’ chances of reaching the World Cup quarter-finals.
Chasing a modest 161-run victory target, Bangladesh lost Tamim Iqbal in the first over but Kayes chalked up his second successive half century to see them home in the Group B match in 41.2 overs.
Abdur Razzak (3-29) and his spin colleagues had earlier laid the foundation for Bangladesh’s victory by bowling with tremendous discipline and the Dutch batsmen did not help their cause either with four of them running themselves out.
For them, Ryan ten Doeschate waged a grim battle but ran out of partners to remain not out on 53 as his team folded for 160 in 46.2 overs.
Bangladesh leapfrogged England into fourth place in Group B with six points and will play their final match against South Africa on Saturday. The top four teams from the group will qualify for the knockout stages.
Kayes lost his opening partner Tamim before the hosts had even registered a run on the board but the 24-year-old, one of seven left handed players in the Bangladesh line-up, kept his focus to carry his bat through the innings.
After Mudassar Bukhari had bowled Tamim in the fourth ball of the innings, Kayes added 92 runs for the second wicket with Junaid Siddique (35) to record Bangladesh’s highest ever World Cup partnership for any wicket.
Kayes then added 59 for the third wicket with Shahriar Nafees (37) before Mushfiqur Rahim clobbered a four and a six off successive deliveries to carry Bangladesh over the finishing line.
