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Kiwis cruise to six-wicket victory

CHELMSFORD, MAY 17: Bangladesh made an inglorious but enthusiastic World Cup debut today as New Zealand cruised to a six-wicket win in their group B match at Chelmsford.

New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming put Bangladesh on the back foot early by winning the toss and sending the ICC Trophy winners into bat. Bangladesh lost their first wicket without a run on the board in the first over and battled to 116 all out in the 38th over.

For New Zealand, Geoff Allott, Chris Cairns and Gavin Larsen each snared three wickets. In reply, the Black Caps lost four wickets before overhauling the modest target in the 33rd over. New Zealand suffered an early setback, losing opener Nathan Astle (4) with the total at five.

Craig McMillan scored 20 before he mis-timed a slower ball from Hasibul Hussain while trying to lift the run-rate and was caught by Naimur Rahman.Opener Matthew Horne shared a 45 run third-wicket partnership with his skipper until Fleming was out chasing a wide ball from Mohammed Rafique, getting aslight bottom edge to wicketkeeper Khaled Masud.

Allott grabbed the first two wickets in the opening three overs and ended the Bangladesh innings by picking up the final wicket in the 38th over.At 49-6 approaching the halfway stage of the innings, Bangladesh had avoided the ignominy of a World Cup record for the lowest total (Canada's 45 vs England in 1979) but continued to struggle before being bowled out in the 37th over.

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