Dhammika Ratnaweera
Paceman Shane Bond plucked 4 wickets for 21 runs as New Zealand beat Bangladesh by 167 runs in their final pool one ICC Champions Trophy cricket match at SSC grounds yesterday. The New Zealanders who made 244 runs for the loss of nine wickets bowled out their opponents for just 77 runs.

Bangladesh collapsed to the bowling might of Shane Bond and Jacob Oram who reduced the Bangladesh side to 19 for 5 in the first five overs.

Tushar Imran top scored with 20 in 16 balls before finally falling to a catch by Nathan Astle at second slip off Oram. He added 18 runs for the sixth wicket with Khaled Mahmud who scored 11. This was the highest partnership for Bangladesh. Kyle Mills who replaced Bond struck taking two quick wickets and spinner Daniel got the final wicket of Manjural Islam in his fourth to finish with 2 for 10.

It was the fifth occasion in 55 one day Internationals that Bangladesh have been bowled out under hundred runs. The lowest total Bangladesh has scored against Sri Lanka in one day cricket is 76 runs which was recorded at same venue SSC in last August .

Earlier New Zealand put into bat first scored 244 for 9 wickets in their allotted 50 overs with number three batsman Mathew Sinclair top scoring with 70. He was figured in a patient innings and faced 122 balls during which he struck five fours. Skipper Stephen Fleming (31) with five fours and Jacob Oram 30 in 27 balls with a four and a six also made useful contributions. Young spinner Mohammad Ashraful was the most successful bowler for Bangladesh finishing with figures of 3 for 26 with a maiden. Manjural Islam and Khalid Mahmud captured two wickets apiece.

New Zealand paceman Shane Bond who was later adjudged man of the match said that the ball had swung more than in the Australian game and that helped him to make an early break through. Skipper Fleming said that after the disappointing performances over Australia in their opening game the side was happy to finish this tournament with the win. "Our paceman also did a good job to have the opponents struggling under these ground conditions," said Flemming. Bangladesh Skipper Khaled Mashud said, " Once again our batsman showed lacked experience. But hope to do our best in the forthcoming tour against South African.

The first semi final between India and South Africa will be played on September 25 (Wednesday ) under lights at R. Premadasa Stadium while the second semi final between Sri Lanka and Australia will also take place at the same venue on September 27 (Friday ).

SCOREBOARD

New Zealand

S.Fleming c Jubair b Mahmud 31

N.Astle c Kapali b Islam 5

M.Sinclair c Rafique b Ashraful 70

L.Vincent c Mashud b Mahmud 1

S.Styris run out 26

C.Harris c Mashud b Ashraful 26

J.Oram c Imran b Ashraful 30

D.Vettori c Muntasir b Islam 16

K.Mills not out 3

S.Bond st Mashud b Rafique 8

P.Hitchcock not out 2

Extras (b-1 lb-9 w-14 nb-2) 26

Total (for nine wickets, 50 overs) 244

Fall of wickets: 1-11 2-77 3-79 4-119 5-167 6-198 7-216 8-232 9-242

Bowling: Islam 8-1-30-2 (1-nb, 4-w), Jubair 5-0-46-0 (9-w), Mahmud 10-0-41-2 (1-nb, 1-w), Rafique 10-0-39-1, Muntasir 10-0-40-0, Kapali 2-0-12-0, Ashraful 5-1-26-3

Bangladesh

J.Omar c Astle b Oram 1

A.Sahariar lbw b Bond 0

M.Ashraful c Styris b Bond 1

T.Imran c Astle b Oram 20

A.Kapali c Fleming b Bond 2

K.Mashud c Vincent b Bond 1

K.Mahmud c Fleming b Mills 11

M.Rafique c Harris b Vettori 17

F.Muntasir c Vincent b Mills 5

M.Islam b Vettori 10

T.Jubair not out 1

Extras (lb-1 w-4 nb-3) 8

Total (all out, 19.3 overs) 77

Fall of wickets: 1-2 2-8 3-8 4-16 5-19 6-37 7-46 8-56 9-70 10-77 Bowling: Bond 5-0-21-4 (1-nb, 3-w), Oram 6-1-32-2 (2-nb), Mills 5-0-13-2 (1-w), Vettori 3.3-1-10-2.