New Zealand vs. Bangladesh: Highlights, Scorecard, Report from Cricket World Cup

New Zealand completed an unbeaten record in World Cup Pool A with a thrilling three-wicket victory over Bangladesh in Hamilton.

NZ won the toss and decided to bowl but Mohammad Mahmudullah scored his second consecutive century to guide Bangladesh to 288-7 at Seddon Park.

Martin Guptill scored a century in the reply and the Black Caps reached their total with seven balls to spare as Tim Southee hit a six and four in consecutive balls from Shakib Al-Hasan’s penultimate over.

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Martin Guptill's 105 helps @BLACKCAPS to a three wciket victory: http://t.co/PCia5591zj #CWC15 #fireitup pic.twitter.com/W1yqwgCWXU

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) March 13, 2015"

Trent Boult removed both openers as the Tigers stuttered to 29-2 at the end of the powerplay, but Mahmudullah and Soumya Sarkar (51) put on 90 for the third wicket.

It was a maiden one-day international half-century for Sarkar who was caught by Corey Anderson off spinner Daniel Vettori on the leg-side boundary in the 28th over.

Anderson then picked up the wicket of stand-in captain Shakib Al-Hasan (23) and Mushfiqur Rahim (15), both caught behind, as the Tigers were 184-5 after 40 overs.

However, Mahmudullah, dropped by Anderson at slip on only one, led an assault in the final 10 overs and followed up his century against England by reaching his ton off 111 balls.

Sabbir Rahman chipped in with 40 from 23 balls as Mitchell McClenaghan, who replaced the injured Adam Milne in NZ’s first change of the tournament, took some heavy punishment.

Bangladesh’s regular captain Mashrafe Mortaza was sidelined through injury and Shakib opened the bowling in his absence alongside fellow spinner Taijul Islam.

The innovative move paid off as Brendon McCullum (8), who has the highest strike rate in the tournament, and Kane Williamson (1) both were dismissed in the fifth over.

Guptill and Ross Taylor then put on 131 for the third wicket with the opener reaching his first World Cup hundred from 88 balls with 11 fours and two sixes.

Left-arm spinner Shakib returned to end Guptill’s innings in the 31st over and after the departure of Grant Elliott (39), the Black Caps needed 78 off the final 10 overs.

Nasir Hossain nipped in with the wickets of Taylor (56) and Corey Anderson (39), with Shakib picking up Luke Ronchi (9) in-between for his fourth wicket.

However, Anderson’s three sixes kept them in touch and Shakib was maybe left to rue the decision to bowl himself rather than quick bowler Rubel Hossain at the death as Southee saw New Zealand home for a sixth consecutive win.

They will play either Pakistan, Ireland or West Indies in next Saturday’s quarter-final in Wellington while Bangladesh will face India in Melbourne on Thursday after finishing fourth in Pool A.