DHAKA — Bangladesh did not make the same mistake twice. The Tigers gave New Zealand no chance in the second one-day international, winning impressively to level the series. The final match now takes the shape of an unofficial decider.
Bangladesh had suffered a shocking loss in the first one-day. But the Tigers bounced back in the second match on Monday.
They earned a 6-wicket win at Mirpur.
Batting first, the Kiwis struggled. Nahid Rana’s devastating bowling bowled them out for 198 in 48.4 overs. In reply, Bangladesh reached the target in 35.3 overs.
By balls remaining (87 balls), it is Bangladesh’s second-biggest ODI win against New Zealand. In 2023 in Napier, they had beaten New Zealand with 209 balls to spare.
Bangladesh’s chase did not begin well. The easy target of 199 became difficult when they lost two wickets for 21 runs. Nathan Smith dismissed Saif Hasan (8) in the first over.
Saumya Sarkar came in at number three after Saif’s departure. Recalled to the playing 11 after four matches, he could not capitalize. He fell for 8 off 11 balls. The hosts were under pressure.
Tanzid Tamim and Najmul Hossain Shanto did not let the pressure grow. Instead, they turned the pressure back on the Kiwi bowlers by scoring quickly. Together they added 120 runs off 110 balls.
Tamim played a brilliant innings. He reached his sixth career fifty in just 33 balls and was eventually out for 76 off 58 balls with 10 fours and four sixes. By then the team was on the path to victory.
Even after Tamim was out, Shanto carried the team forward. He reached his fifty with slow batting — his first fifty in 13 ODI innings.
But Shanto then collapsed at the crease after reaching his fifty. It became clear he had injured his leg. He retired hurt, leaving the field on 50 off 71 balls.
After that, captain Mehidy Miraz (8 off 25 balls) and Towhid Hridoy (30 off 31 balls) remained unbeaten to seal the win. Their unbroken 32-run sixth-wicket stand carried the team home.
Earlier, Shoriful Islam and Nahid Rana kept New Zealand in check while they batted first. The Kiwis lost two wickets and scored just 28 runs in the powerplay. Both wickets fell to Nahid Rana.
Brought on in the eighth over, he broke the opening partnership. He had Henry Nicholls (13 off 26 balls) trapped lbw. In the next over he claimed Will Young (2 off 7 balls).
Tom Latham and Nick Kelly tried to absorb the blows. But the effort failed, with Saumya Sarkar dismissing Latham. The Kiwi captain made 14 off 35 balls before being caught behind.
Having lost three wickets after passing 50, Nick Kelly and Mohammad Abbas tried to steady New Zealand. They put on a 56-run stand off 66 balls.
But before the partnership could turn dangerous, Nahid Rana broke it up by dismissing Mohammad Abbas (19 off 34 balls). The Kiwis lost their fourth wicket at 108 in 29 overs. By then Kelly had passed 50.
Kelly received no further support. He was dismissed for 83 off 102 balls with the team on 145, falling to Shoriful. Just 7 runs later, Rishad dismissed Clarkson (6).
Previous match hero Dean Foxcroft scored 15 off 35 balls before becoming Nahid’s fourth victim. In the 45.3rd over, Nahid bowled Jayden Lennox to complete his five-wicket haul.
For New Zealand, Blair Tickner scored 12 late in the innings. Nathan Smith remained unbeaten on 18. Rana took 5 for 32 to be named man of the match. Shoriful also took 2 for 32.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report