New Zealand landed the first blow as they crushed Bangladesh a big margin in the first ODI of the 3-match series to go 1-0 up in the series. Missing Shakib al Hasan in the squad, Bangladesh did not put much of a fight both with the bat and ball in this match.
Bangladesh made a false start losing 2 wickets in the fifth over after being asked to bat first. Soumya Sarkar who was not in the best of form in the recent past bagged a 3-ball Duck. Only two of the visiting batsmen managed to get into their 20s – Mahmudullah (27) and Mushfiqur Rahim (23). As a whole, they also failed to get a partnership going in this match! Trent Boult was the pick of Kiwis bowlers with 4 wickets while James Neesham and Mitchell Santner bagged 2 wickets each. Matt Henry picked up a wicket.
During the chase, Martin Guptill got them off to a flier with a 19-ball 38 that included 3 fours and 4 sixes. With the target too small, New Zealand eventually chased down the target with 8 wickets in hand and 28.4 overs to spare in their innings. Henry Nicholls was left stranded on 49* in this 8-wicket victory. New Zealand stand-in captain who was playing his 100th ODI match did not even get a chance to bat in this small run-chase! Bangladesh bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud shared a wicket apiece.
New Zealand pacer Trent Boult who picked up 4 wickets and conceded just 27 runs from his 8.5 overs has been adjudged as the ‘Player of the Match’. With this victory, New Zealand are leading the 3-match series by 1-0. The second ODI of the series is scheduled to be played at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Tuesday (Mar 23).
Brief Scores: New Zealand – 132/2 in 21.2 overs (Henry Nicholls – 49*, Martin Guptill – 38, Taskin Ahmed – 1/23, Hasan Mahmud – 1/49) defeated Bangladesh – 131 all out in 41.5 overs (Mahmudullah – 27, Mushfiqur Rahim – 23, Trent Boult – 4/27, Mitchell Santner – 2/23) by a margin of 8 wickets
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