The pair came together with tournament outsider Bangladesh in deep trouble on 33-4 and took their team to the brink of victory on 257-5.
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Meanwhile, Bangladesh started their Champions Trophy 2017 campaign on a losing note as they were humbled by the hosts by eight wickets.
Though Shakib got out at 114 (115) towards the end of the match, Mahmudullah remained unbeaten at 102 (107) to help his team to reach the target with three overs to spare.
The two sides have just a point apiece in the eight-team marquee tournament after they slumped to a comprehensive defeat by England, while their respective matches against two-time victor Australia were abandoned.
Both teams may also have to put up with the threat of rain in this game, although New Zealand has more to fear on this front.
“It was certainly an innings of two halves”, beaten New Zealand captain Kane Williamson told BBC Radio’s Test Match Special.
“Yes, he is in great form but we can not focus only on Williamson”, said Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza at his pre-match press conference.
“They’ve done it a lot of other times, but it was phenomenal to get a 200 partnership”. A no-result would also be enough for Bangladesh to progress. But the Tigers have gradually built up their reputation and reached the quarterfinals of the 2015 World Cup.
In reply, Bangladesh had a nervous start and its four top batsmen fell for just 33 runs.
Iqbal had scored 65, 128 and 95 in his previous three ODI innings and his early departure was a major blow. Tim Southee produced movement reminiscent of John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever to take a wicket in each of his first three overs.
With Bangladesh struggling at 12/3 in the fifth over, Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim 21 runs between them before the Kiwi pacer Adam Milne found the gap between the bat and pad of the latter.
Mahmudullah and Shakib targeted Neesham, alternating between attack and well-timed running to force New Zealand to rethink, and they were unable to stop Bangladesh’s steady accumulation.
Southee was the standout performer in a rather poor bowling effort by the Kiwis with figures of 3/ in nine overs.
The duo shared a 224-run fifth-wicket stand, the highest ever for any wicket for Bangladesh, and the third highest for the fifth wicket overall and kept Bangladesh’s hopes of a semi-final berth alive. Taskin Ahmed removed Ross Taylor after a hard fought 63 off 82 deliveries brought in New Zealand’s vulnerable middle order to the fore and once again failed to produce. New Zealand have the pedigree, but it would be foolish to rule out Bangladesh, given their improved showing in this format in recent years.
New Zealand have won the toss and chosen to bat first against Bangladesh in their Champions Trophy cricket showdown in Cardiff. He ripped through New Zealand’s fragile middle order with 3-13 in three overs.
On a winless tournament: “You want to come here firing and playing the best cricket”.
New Zealand (NZ) vs Bangladesh (BAN) Match was about to start at 03:00 PM IST is Delayed due to wet outfield.
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New Zealand captain Kane Williamson made a brilliant hundred against Australia before following up with 87 against England – a match where he was fined but not banned for a dreadfully slow over-rate. But Rubel spoiled their plans by claiming Guptill with the fourth ball he bowled to the batsman.
