ST PETER’S (Antigua), April 3: New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming's 102 not out set the seal on a comprehensive nine-wicket victory against Bangladesh in the World Cup Super Eights match here on Monday as his side moved a step nearer the semi-finals (also partially reported in Tuesday’s edition).

Together with Hamish Marshall, who made 50 not out, he shared an unbroken second wicket stand of 134 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Marshall's six off Mohammad Ashraful saw New Zealand win with more than 20 overs to spare.

Fleming's 90-ball innings, which featured three sixes and 10 fours, was only his eighth century in 275 One-day Internationals.

Marshall faced 54 balls with one six and two fours.

Victory left New Zealand, who carried forward two points for a win over fellow Group C qualifiers England, level at the top of the standings on six points with world champions Australia.

The Black Caps' second win in the Super Eights, after a seven-wicket defeat of hosts West Indies on Thursday, was set up by a fine bowling display that saw Bangladesh bundled out for 174.

Jacob Oram (three for 30) made the initial breakthrough with two top order wickets and a run out before wrapping up the innings with nine balls to spare by bowling last man Syed Rasel for 10.

Fellow all-rounder Scott Styris followed up with four for 43.

The only hiccup when New Zealand batted saw makeshift opener Peter Fulton (15) chip left-arm seamer Syed Rasel to Tamim Iqbal at mid-on.

Bangladesh next play South Africa in Guyana on Saturday with New Zealand taking on Ireland there on Monday.

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH:

Javed Omar c McCullum b Oram 22

Tamim Iqbal st McCullum b Oram 29

Aftab Ahmed c sub (Gillespie) b Styris 27

Saqibul Hasan b Bond 25

Habibul Bashar run out 9

Mohammad Ashraful b Styris 3

Mushfiqur Rahim b Bond 0

Mashrafe Mortaza b Styris 2

Mohammad Rafique not out 30

Abdur Razzak c sub (Gillespie) b Styris 0

Syed Rasel b Oram 10

EXTRAS (B-5, LB-10, W-2) 17

TOTAL (all out, 48.3 overs) 174

FALL OF WKTS: 1-55 (Tamim Iqbal, 16.4 ov), 2-62 (Javed Omar, 18.4 ov), 3-105 (Aftab Ahmed, 28.2 ov), 4-122 (Habibul Bashar, 33.3 ov), 5-127 (Saqibul Hasan, 35.1 ov), 6-127 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 35.6 ov), 7-129 (Mohammad Ashraful, 38.2 ov), 8-140 (Mashrafe Mortaza, 42.1 ov), 9-140 (Abdur Razzak, 42.3 ov).

BOWLING: Mason 1.3-1-4-0; Bond 10-4-15-2; McMillan 1.3-0-6-0; Franklin 6-1-27-0; Oram 9.3-0-30-3 (1w); Vettori 10-0-34-0 (1w); Styris 10-1-43-4.

NEW ZEALAND:

P.G. Fulton c Tamim Iqbal b Rasel 15

S.P. Fleming not out 102

H.J.H. Marshall not out 50

EXTRAS (W-11) 11

TOTAL (for one wkt, 29.2 overs) 178

FALL OF WKT: 1-44 (Fulton, 9.2 ov).

DID NOT BAT: S.B. Styris, C.D. McMillan, J.D.P. Oram, B.B. McCullum, D.L. Vettori, J.E.C. Franklin, S.E. Bond, M.J. Mason.

BOWLING: Mashrafe Mortaza 6-0-41-0 (1w); Syed Rasel 7-0-22-1 (2w); Abdur Razzak 8-0-38-0 (2w); Mohammad Rafique 5-0-37-0 (2w); Saqibul Hasan 3-0-33-0; Mohammad Ashraful 0.2-0-7-0.

RESULT: New Zealand won by nine wickets.

UMPIRES: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and R.E. Koertzen (South Africa).

TV UMPIRE: Asad Rauf (Pakistan).

MATCH REFEREE: M.J. Procter (South Africa).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Shane Bond.—Agencies