CRICKET:OPENER IMRUL Kayes smashed an unbeaten 73 to help Bangladesh to a six-wicket win over the Netherlands yesterday at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, boosting the co-hosts' chances of reaching the quarter-finals. Chasing a modest 161-run victory target, Bangladesh lost Tamim Iqbal in the first over but Kayes chalked up his second successive half century to see them home in the Group B match in 41.2 overs.

Abdur Razzak (3-29) and his spin colleagues had earlier laid the foundation for Bangladesh’s victory by bowling with tremendous discipline and the Dutch batsmen did not help their cause with four of them running themselves out.

For them, Ryan ten Doeschate ran out of partners to remain not out on 53 as his team folded for 160 in 46.2 overs.

Bangladesh’s win added another twist to an already wide open Group B. They leapfrogged England into fourth place with six points. If Ireland are beaten by South Africa today and England go down to West Indies on Thursday, then Bangladesh will go through to the last eight without needing to win their final match.

Kayes lost his opening partner Tamim before the hosts had even registered a run on the board but the 24-year-old kept his focus to carry his bat through the innings.

After Mudassar Bukhari had bowled Tamim in the fourth ball of the innings, Kayes added 92 runs for the second wicket with Junaid Siddique (35) to record Bangladesh’s highest ever World Cup partnership for any wicket.

Kayes then added 59 for the third wicket with Shahriar Nafees (37) before Mushfiqur Rahim (11 not out) clobbered a four and a six off successive deliveries to carry Bangladesh over the finishing line.

Earlier, Dutch batsmen struggled to score against Bangladesh’s spin attack. Captain Shakib Al Hasan, Suhrawadi Shuvo and Abdur Razzak’s left-arm deliveries flummoxed Peter Borren’s men.