Kane Williamson marked his return to the World Cup with an unbeaten 78 as New Zealand cruised past Bangladesh by eight wickets, but the captain was forced to retire injured following a thumb injury.
Williamson had been sidelined with a serious knee injury sustained during the IPL and missed New Zealand’s first two World Cup victories.
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Chasing 246 to win, the 33-year-old, playing his first ODI since January, had reached his 43rd fifty in the format off 81 balls and looked well set for a century.
He moved to 78 with eight fours and a six when he had to stop after a pitch from the deep hit him painfully on the glove, trapping his thumb against the bat handle.
In discussion with the medical team, and with the Black Caps just 46 points from victory, it was decided to withdraw Williamson from the match.
“I’m not sure yet,” Williamson said when asked about the severity of the injury. “It immediately became a bit big and colorful, which made it difficult to hold the bat. I’ll do a scan tomorrow and hope all is well. New Zealand comfortably claimed their third victory with 43 balls to play. Williamson had put up a second wicket stand of 80 with opener Devon Conway (45), then 108 with Daryl Mitchell racing to his 50 from 43 balls.
Mitchell did it in style with a giant heave for six off Bangladeshi seamer Shoriful Islam.
Mitchell finished unbeaten on 89 off just 67 deliveries, with six fours and four sixes to his name.
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New Zealand, finalist of the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, had already beaten England, the reigning champion, as well as the Netherlands, outsiders, in India.
Bangladesh defeated Afghanistan and then lost to England.
Earlier, Mushfiqur Rahim hit a fine half-century to take Bangladesh to 245-9 while veteran Black Caps fast bowler Trent Boult claimed a 200th one-day international wicket.
Mushfiqur made 66 off 75 balls with six fours and two sixes, taking his tally of fifties in the format to 48 after also hitting a half-century against England three days ago.
The 36-year-old, playing in his 259th ODI, shared a crucial 96-run fourth partnership with skipper Shakib Al Hasan (40) to help their team recover from 56-4 down.
Mushfiqur was eventually run out by Matt Henry as he tried to increase the scoring rate after Shakib’s death, caught by wicketkeeper Tom Latham off Lockie Ferguson after going over an attempted shot.
Shakib finished his innings suffering cramps in the sweltering heat and batting without a helmet or cap against the spinners.
After the match, teammate Najmul Hossain Shanto said Shakib “had a scan” without specifying the injury problem.
“Then we will know what happened to him,” Najmul said.
Eighth-ranked Mushfiqur’s brother-in-law Mahmudullah added a valuable unbeaten 41.
Boult, meanwhile, became the sixth New Zealand player to take 200 ODI wickets. The 34-year-old reached the personal milestone by dismissing Towhid Hridoy, caught at extra cover by Mitchell Santner for 13, in the 38th over.
Playing in his 107th ODI, Boult also dismissed opener Liton Das on the first ball of the match.
Liton was celebrating his 29th birthday but any hopes of a big score to mark the occasion were shattered when he rushed towards the wicket to face Boult only to flick the ball to a grateful Henry who bagged the chance with a beautiful leg.
