Bangladesh and New Zealand clash in final group game, fully aware that even a victory today in Birmingham may not take them into semi-finals
Tamim Iqbal
New Zealand players celebrate the fall of an England wicket at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Tuesday. England won by 87 runs. Pic/AFP
Bangladesh and New Zealand head into their final group match of this year's Champions Trophy desperate for victory but knowing even a win in Cardiff today may not take either of them into the semi-finals.
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Both teams have a point apiece after they were each well beaten by England, while their respective matches with Australia ended in rain-induced no results. England are already into the last four and Australia will join them there if they defeat the tournament hosts in the final Group A fixture at Edgbaston on Sunday.
It all leaves Bangladesh and New Zealand needing to win in Wales and then hope England put one over their arch-rivals, assuming more bad weather does not disrupt those calculations. New Zealand should have an edge over Bangladesh when it comes to local knowledge given their 87-run defeat by England in Cardiff on Tuesday. New Zealand captain Kane Williamson made a brilliant hundred against Australia before following up with 97 against England - a match where he was fined but not banned for a dreadfully slow over-rate. Bangladesh's Tamim Iqbal also started the tournament with a century, against England, before making 95 against Australia.
Opener Tamim Iqbal is in fine form for Bangladesh. Pic/AFP
For both sides the innings has tended to fall away following the exit of their star batsman, with New Zealand losing their last eight wickets for 65 against England following Williamson's dismissal. Bangladesh were just four overs away from all but certain defeat and tournament elimination when rain came to their rescue against Australia.
Their most recent meeting with the Blackcaps saw Bangladesh beat New Zealand by five wickets in a warm-up match in Dublin. New Zealand, however, were without several key players in Martin Guptill, Williamson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Adam Milne.
Defeating New Zealand would not be such a shock, but it would be a huge boost to Bangladesh's standing in world cricket.
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