Stephen Fleming, after winning the toss asked Bangladesh to bat on a pitch that offered the bowlers some early assistance. The new white ball is swinging in the air and with the raised seam is deviating off the pitch, creating problems for most opening batsmen in this competition.

New Zealand wanted to put Bangladesh under pressure and try and play them out of the game by bowling them out cheaply. Fleming could easily have batted first, giving his batsmen an opportunity to bat for fifty overs and get much needed practice. Maybe Fleming didn'twant to expose his batting against an unknown attack so early in the competition and perhaps be embarrassed.

These types of games against lesser rated teams often prove to be difficult, but when Geoff Allott struck twice in the first two overs, the writing was on the wall for Bangladesh. When Bangladesh's two experienced batsmen, Akram Khan and Aminul Islam were also dismissed cheaply, Bangladesh were struggling to reach a hundred.

West Indian Gordon Greenidge, the Bangladesh coach, would be extremely disappointed with the batting as no one was prepared to occupy the crease and for long and ensure that the fifty overs would be bowled. Lack of footwork, crease-bound batsmen looking to play the big shots to balls that were not there to be hit, brought about their downfall. To be bowled out for 116 in 37 overs was a poor performance. Bangladesh have to improve a great deal if they are looking to impress the ICC and gain promotion to Test cricket.

The New Zealand bowlers had a solid work out in coolconditions. They will be pleased with their all round efforts in the field. Allott, as he has done with the new ball in recent times, proved to be a wicket taking bowler yet again. He managed to swing the ball into the batsman and was well rewarded with two leg before decisions. Dion Nash ended up with respectable figures but remained wicketless. However, it was Gavin Larsen and Chris Cairns, with three wickets each, who bowled with purpose and accuracy with workman-like performances.

Cairns, returning to the game after a severe calf strain against South Africa two months ago, bowled well. He captured two wickets with the slower ball and his return to form and fitness is significant to New Zealand's chances of being competitive in this tournament. Operating from a shortened run-up, he managed to extract some uneven bounce from the pitch, but his subtle variation and general control was pleasing to see.

New Zealand had to bat for 30 minutes before lunch. Set 117 for victory, Nathan Astle attacked theBangladeshi bowling as though he wanted the match finished within 20 overs. In the second over of the innings, Astle played a magnificent cover drive for four off the left handed opening bowler and debutant, Monjural Islam. In the same over, he was caught at mid-off to leave New Zealand at five for one. Could an upset and the unbelievable happen?

Hasibul Hussain and Monjural bowled very well with the new ball and put both Matthew Horne and Craig McMillan under a lot of pressure. Both batsman struggled to time the ball and were well beaten by both bowlers on several occasions to balls pitching on or around the off stump.

McMillan tried to hit himself out of trouble and after hitting three boundaries, surrendered his wicket to Hasibul being caught at mid wicket. In the meantime, Horne was struggling to find form, batting for 38 balls and accumulating only seven runs. Fleming played a couple of nice straight drives but was out caught by the wicket-keeper, cutting a wide ball that kept low from the left armspinner, Rafique. Just as Horne started to find his timing, and increase the scoring rate, he was out lbw to a ball that kept low from the off spinner, Rahman.

Roger Twose was by far the pick of the batsmen and played positively and solidly, adapting to the pitch conditions. He guided New Zealand to victory with a sensible 34, including a six and 5 fours. While he was at the crease, there was no danger of New Zealand losing this match.