Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh lost to New Zealand (NZ) by eight wickets in the first One Day International (ODI) match at University Oval in Dunedin, New Zealand on Saturday.
Sent into bat first, Bangladesh scored 131 in 41.5 overs.
In reply, New Zealand reached the winning target making 132 for the loss of two wickets when they had 172 balls to spare.
New Zealand made a good start as openers Martin Guptill and Henry Nicholls put on together 54 runs in the opening stand before Guptill was caught behind by Mushfiqur Rahim off Taskin Ahmed.
After dismissal of Guptil, Nicholls and Devon Conway repaired the damage adding together 65 runs for the second wicket partnership before Conway (27) was caught at the deep square leg by Mahmudullah Riyad off Hasan Mahmud when New Zealand’s score was 119 for the loss of two wickets.
Then Nicholls and Will Young guided their team to reach the victory target.
Nicholls remained unbeaten with 49. He hit six fours in his 53-ball innings.
Guptill made 38 from 19 balls featuring four sixes and three fours.
Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud took one wicket each for 23 and 49 runs respectively.
Earlier, Bangladesh had a painful start as opener Tamim Iqbal (13) was trapped leg before wicket by Trent Boult when Bangladesh’s score was just 19.
Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud were dismissed for 19,0, 9, 1, 14, 10 and 1 run respectively.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad were the two batsmen of Bangladesh who fought back against the tight and controlled bowling attack of the bowlers of New Zealand.
Mahmudullah Riyad hit the team’s highest of 27 from 54 deliveries. He hit one four and one sixer before he was caught at the midwicket by Mitchell Santner off Matt Henry.
Mushfiqur Rahim scored 23 from 49 balls. He struck two fours before he was caught at the gully by Martin Guptill off James Neesham.
Trent Boult of New Zealand was the day’s most successful bowler. He captured four wickets at the cost of 27 runs. Boult was adjudged the Man of the Match for his outstanding bowling performance.
Mitchell Santner and James Neesham bagged two wickets each instead of 23 and 27 runs respectively.
Besides, Matt Henry took one wicket for 26 runs.
