Sports Reporter :
Spirited Bangladesh Cric-ket team registered an easy seven-wicket win over the touring New Zealand Cricket team in their first Twenty20 International (T20I) match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur on Wednesday. It was for the first time Bangladesh defeated New Zealand in a T20I match. So, the red-and-green outfit made history in their cricket campaign.
Bangladesh have now 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.
Chasing the Kiwis’ fragile total of 60 runs in the 16.5 overs, Bangladesh sailed home making 62 for the loss of three wickets in 15 overs.
Bangladesh had a shaky start as opener Mohammad Naim (1) was caught by Henry Nicholls off Cole McConchie when Bangladesh’s score was just 1.
After Naim’s dismissal, Liton Das, the other opener (1) was stumped out by Tom Latham off Ajaz Patel when the hosts’ total was seven for the loss of two wickets.
After Liton’s departure, Shakib Al Hasan and
Mushfiqur Rahim contributed 30 runs in the third wicket stand before Shakib was caught behind by Latham off Rachin Ravindra when the home side’s score was 37 for the loss of three wickets.
Shakib hit a fine 25. His 33-ball innings had two fours. He was adjudged the Man of the Match for his all-round performance.
Then Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad guided their team to reach the winning spot.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Riyad contributed 25 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket partnership.
Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten with 16 runs, while Riyad remained unbeaten with 14 runs.
Patel, McConchie, Ravindra took one wicket apiece.
Bangladesh bowlers totally dominated New Zealand batsmen. Thus New Zealand scored lowest ever their runs in T20I cricket. Mustafizur Rahman captured highest three wickets at the cost of 13 runs only, while Nasum Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin and Shakib Al Hasan bagged two wickets each for five, seven and 10 runs respectively. Mahedi Hasan took one wicket in the space of 15 runs.
New Zealand had a poor start as they lost four wickets for just nine runs.
Right-arm spinner Mahedi Hasan gave his team early breakthrough when opener Rachin Ravindra (0) was caught and bowled by the right-arm spinner when the Kiwis’ score was just 1.
Then Shakib Al Hasan clean bowled out one-down Will Young for just five runs when the tourists’ total was seven for the loss of two wickets.
Second-down Colin de Grandhomme (1) was caught at the square leg by Mohammad Naim off Nasum Ahmed when the visitors’ score was eight for the loss of three wickets. Tom Blundell, the other opener (2) was bowled by left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed when the tourists’ total was nine for the loss of two wickets.
Then Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls made a notable partnership. They put on together 34 runs for the fifth wicket partnership before Latham (18) was caught at the fine leg by Nasum Ahmed off Mohammad Saifuddin when New Zealand’s score was 43 for the loss of five wickets.
Fifth-down Cole McConchie (0) was caught at the short midwicket by Mushfiqur Rahim off Shakib Al Hasan when the Black Caps’ total was 45 for the loss of six wickets.
Henry Nicholls (18) was caught at the long-on by Mushfiqur Rahim off Mohammad Saifuddin when the visitors’ score was 49 for the loss of seven wickets.
‘Cutter Boy’ Mustafizur Rahman bowled out Ajaz Patel for three runs when New Zealand’s total was 52 for the loss of eight wickets.
Six-down Doug Bracewell (5) was caught at the long leg by Mahedi Hasan off Mustafizur Rahman when the touring side’s score 55 for the loss of nine wickets.
Number-11 batsman Jacob Duffy (3) was caught at the mid-on by Mohammad Saifuddin off Mustafizur Rahman when New Zealand’s innings came to an end.
