Kane Williamson marked his return to the Cricket World Cup with 78 runs as New Zealand crushed Bangladesh by eight wickets on Friday.
Williamson suffered a serious knee injury during the Indian Premier League and missed New Zealand’s first two World Cup victories.
Chasing 246 to win, the 33-year-old, playing his first ODI since January, reached his 43rd fifty in the format off 81 balls and appeared well on his way to a hundred.
He progressed to 78 with eight fours and a six before he was forced to retire after a throw from the outfield struck him on the glove and jammed his thumb against the bat handle.
In consultation with the medical staff, and with the Black Caps needing only 46 runs to win, Williamson was removed from the game.
“Not sure just yet,” said Williamson when asked about the gravity of the injury.
“It got a bit fat and colourful straight away which made holding the bat difficult. I’ll have a scan tomorrow and hopefully it’s okay.”
New Zealand clinched their third victory with 43 balls to spare.
Williamson had a second-wicket stand of 80 with opener Devon Conway (45), followed by a stand of 108 with Daryl Mitchell, who reached his fifty off 43 balls.
Mitchell achieved victory with a massive six off Bangladeshi bowler Shoriful Islam.
Mitchell finished unbeaten with 89 runs off 67 deliveries, including six fours and four sixes.
New Zealand, the runner-up in both the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, had already defeated England and the Netherlands in India.
After defeating Afghanistan, Bangladesh fell to England.
Earlier, Mushfiqur Rahim scored a fine fifty to lead Bangladesh to a score of 245-9, while Black Caps veteran fast bowler Trent Boult claimed his 200th one-day international wicket.
Mushfiqur scored 66 off 75 balls with six fours and two sixes, bringing his total number of fifties in the format to 48 after scoring a half-century three days ago against England.
The 36-year-old, playing in his 259th ODI, and captain Shakib Al Hasan (40) shared a crucial 96-run fourth wicket partnership to help their team recover from 56-4.
Mushfiqur was eventually clean-bowled by Matt Henry as he attempted to increase the scoring rate after Shakib was caught by wicketkeeper Tom Latham off Lockie Ferguson’s top-edged pull shot.
Shakib finished his innings with cramps in the sweltering heat and without a helmet or cap against the spinners, while batting without a helmet or cap.
Shakib has undergone a scan, according to teammate Najmul Hossain Shanto, who did not specify the nature of the injury concern.
“We’ll then know what’s happened to him,” said Najmul.
At number eight, Mushfiqur’s brother-in-law Mahmudullah contributed a valuable unbeaten 41.
Boult became the sixth player from New Zealand to take 200 ODI wickets.
In the 38th over, the 34-year-old reached the milestone by dismissing Towhid Hridoy, who was caught by Mitchell Santner at extra cover for 13 runs.
Boult also dismissed Liton Das with the first ball of the match during his 107th ODI.
Liton was celebrating his 29th birthday, but his hopes for a big score to commemorate the occasion were dashed when he shuffled down the wicket to face Boult and then lofted the ball to a grateful Henry, who caught it at fine leg.
Photo by R. Parthibhan/Shutterstock
