New Zealand will head into the cricket World Cup quarter-finals with a 100 per cent record after chasing down 289 to beat Bangladesh in Hamilton.
But after opener Martin Guptill had set the platform with a century, it turned into a close-run thing on Friday night, as the Black Caps finished on 7-290 with seven balls to spare.
Seamer Tim Southee ensured there would be no late upset as he closed the contest with a six and a four off consecutive balls.
“Obviously it was a tight finish and it just shows we found another way to win a game of cricket,” he said.
“I think it’s testament to the side that we were challenged in different ways today and we managed to come through.”
When Southee joined spinner Daniel Vettori in the middle, New Zealand needed 20 from 16 balls.
He said it was big help to have the experienced Vettori there to talk through the options.
“Although it might have been a bit tense, it was great to have an old head at the other end to get us through,” he said.
Guptill, who had struggled for runs at times earlier in the summer, produced a confident performance, and he had to overcome leg cramp on the way to 105, his sixth ODI ton.
He shared in a 131-run third-wicket partnership with Ross Taylor, the pair having come together at 2-33.
Taylor’s dismissal for 56 after he became the fourth New Zealander to reach 5000 ODI runs left the Black Caps still needing 70 from 52 balls.
Their chase had begun with the early loss of their two most prolific scorers of the tournament – skipper Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson.
Bangladesh had suggested pre-match that the big-hitting McCullum might be susceptible to the slow bowlers and they opened with spinners at both ends.
The move paid dividends as McCullum, on eight, was caught going for the big hit.
Williamson, who popped up a catch to cover, followed him for one in the same over.
Both fell to all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who finished with match-best figures of 4-55.
Shakib, standing in as skipper for Masrafe Mortaza, who was rested because of a cold, said it was disappointing to come up short.
But his players could take plenty of positives into a likely clash against India in Melbourne next Thursday.
“We can take confidence into the quarter-finals and that will help us immensely,” he said.
“It was an excellent game of cricket. It could have gone either way. At the end it went to the better side on the day.”
After New Zealand had won the toss and chose to field, Bangladesh posted 7-288, with Mohammad Mahmudullah scoring his second successive century with an unbeaten 128.
Mahmudullah had notched up his maiden ton four days earlier, getting 103 in the 15-run win against England in Adelaide.
He got good support from Soumya Sarkar (51), the pair having come together with Bangladesh spluttering at 2-27 as the New Zealand bowlers profited from early swing at Seddon Park.
Trent Boult, who was initially tough to get away before conceding late runs in his 10 overs, took 2-56 to return to the top of the list of tournament wicket-takers with 15.
