BAN VS NZ - Match 9, ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

Close encounters! Upsets! Pressure! Well, World Cup has well and truly arrived. Bangladesh almost snatched victory from the jaws of defeat today. They literally fought as if their life was dependent on it. And that's what you expect out of a World Cup encounter. That's it from us today. Join us tomorrow for a mouth-watering clash between Australia and West Indies. Until then, this is Varun Dixit signing off on behalf of Pradeep Krishnamurty, Raju Peethala, Nikhil Jadhav and Mukesh Gowda. Good night and take care!

Kane Williamson, New Zealand skipper: Very nice to get across the line, I thought the first innings was outstanding. The fielding was brilliant throughout by both teams. We thought 250 could be a competitive score and we just needed to keep wickets in the hand. It wasn't a clinical effort with the bat, but it was nice to get over the line. There were a few soft dismissals that we need to address. It was a great experience to have and these things happen and they go down the wire. It was nice to hold on as momentum shifts tend to happen in tournament cricket. I thought all the guys adopted to their role very well. We were expecting a lot more pace but it was on the slower side. Both teams had a similar kind of a approach today. It was one of those surfaces that produces great cricket. The guys on the sidelines who have a couple of niggles are improving, while the guys on the park are doing their job as well.

Mashrafe Mortaza, Bangladesh skipper: It was a good wicket. We were 20-30 short with the bat and the outfield was slow. It was the same wicket that we played the last game. We lost too many wickets in the middle overs and couldn't get any big partnership. We needed a set batsmen in the middle overs, but in the end it got tight and if you want to win matches you need to get wickets. We did it very professionally in the end. We tried hard, but that can happen and the next one is a big match and hopefully we can step up in that. We have to take one game at a time, couldn't manage today but we will try to be at our best in the next game.

Ross Taylor, Man of the Match: I was very nervous in the end. But gotta give the credit to Bangladesh and their supporters who came out in numbers. They put a lot of pressure on us and this could have gone either way. We thought 270-280 was a good score on this wicket but the bowlers kept it tight. It was nice to get over the line at the end of the day. We need to work on our running between the wickets, there were a couple of close calls there. I do enjoy batting with Kane and hopefully we run well between the wickets against Afghanistan.

21:13 Local Time, 20:13 GMT, 01:43 IST: This has been a near-sensational defence from Bangladesh. They gave their absolute everything. What a shame that they ended up on the losing side. Guptill got New Zealand off to a flyer but failed to capitalize on the start. But Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor stitched together a 105-run partnership and New Zealand were cruising towards the victory until Williamson chipped one in the air to deep mid-wicket. That triggered a batting collapse as the pressure of chasing down a total in a World cup game got to them. Bangladesh kept taking wickets at regular intervals and they made 244 look like 274. In the end, it required the calm head of Santner to take New Zealand over the line, his contribution of 17 off 12 balls proving to be decisive. Hang on for the presentations.

Mustafizur to Santner, FOUR, Santner has finished it off with a boundary. New Zealand win by 2 wickets! He punches the air in delight to celebrate the victory. It was in the slot for Santner, he plunges forward and drives it with a lot of class and elegance. It beats mid-off and canters to the fence

Saifuddin to Ferguson, FOUR, whatta time to produce the outside edge! It was on a fuller length and was on the stumps, Ferguson was looking to push it to the off-side, gets an outside edge and it runs fine of third man for a boundary. This should be the game, set and match!

Saifuddin to Ferguson, wide, two wides in a row, this is not what Bangladesh want. It ends up being down the leg-side and an easy decision of wide for the umpire

Saifuddin to Ferguson, wide, target is down to 6 courtesy that wide. It was banged in too short and it went over the head of Ferguson. Umpire gave it a wide

Saifuddin to Ferguson, no run, on a length and on the stumps, Ferguson gets behind it and blocks it back

Saifuddin to Ferguson, no run, misses the yorker, it ends up being a full-toss. Ferguson inside edges it to the on-side

Lockie Ferguson, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Arjun Goutham: Bangladesh are playing some incredible cricket for the last couple of games. Will be interesting to see the points table after couple of more games.

Saifuddin to Matt Henry, out Bowled!! There is more drama left, folks! Bangladesh are not in a mood to give up. Their skipper said before the match that they will fight till the final ball. And his team is doing exactly that. What an effort! Saifuddin offered a juicy full-toss, Matt Henry swung hard, failed to put any bat on it. And it came back to crash onto his stumps. Matt Henry b Saifuddin 6(8) [4s-1]

Saifuddin to Matt Henry, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Saifuddin to Santner, 1 run, short and at the body, Santner pulls it to fine leg, only 7 needed for win now

Saifuddin to Santner, 2 runs, on a good length and angling away from Santner, he punches it wide of deep cover and collects a brace

Mustafizur to Matt Henry, no run, drags his length back on this delivery, Matt Henry was late on the push and inside half of the bat takes it back onto his shoe

Mustafizur to Matt Henry, wide, on a fuller length and wide of off, Matt Henry throws his bat at it, ends up making no contact

Change of angle for Mustafizur.

Mustafizur to Matt Henry, no run, fuller delivery on the stumps, Matt Henry pushes it straight to mid-off