Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com
Bangladesh lost a one-day international to New Zealand at home for the first time since 2008 as they succumbed to an 86-run defeat in the second of the three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday.
It was Blackcaps leg-spinner Ish Sodhi who stole the show with six wickets, the first New Zealand spinner to do so, following his highlights with the bat, which also included a run out at the non-striker’s end, which was then withdrawn by Bangladesh skipper Liton Das to allow the batsman to score 18 more runs and end on 35, helping New Zealand score 254 despite losing seven wickets before reaching 200.
In reply, the Bangladesh batsmen gifted Sodhi a few wickets and were befuddled by a few other deliveries to get bowled out for 168.
Mahmudullah made highest 49 for Bangladesh while Tamim Iqbal made 44.
The target seemed achievable when Bangladesh started their innings but got increasingly difficult as wickets fell in bundles, leading to Tamim’s frustration after the match.
‘The kind of wicket it was, the target was gettable. I have to also say, that we shouldn’t have allowed them to score 254, we could have restricted 210-215. The way we got out is there for everyone to see. There was not a single delivery which was very good and got us out,’ said Tamim after the match.
Winning the toss, New Zealand skipper Lockie Ferguson opted to bat first but it looked like the wrong call early on as Mustafizur Rahman struck early twice again to get rid of the Blackcaps openers, before debutant Khaled Ahmed found his first wicket to get Chad Bowes (14).
From there, a 95-run stand between Henry Nicholls (49) and Tom Blundell (68) brought some calm but Khaled got rid of the former to make an opening, and then Hasan Mahmud and Shak Mahedi Hasan combined to reduce New Zealand to 187-7.
However, late order contributions from Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson, and Ferguson meant New Zealand ended on 254.
In reply, Tamim, following his return to international cricket after a two-month break, looked steady while Liton (6) continued on his poor run of form to get dismissed early.
Young Tanzid Hasan Tamim (16) played a couple of good shots before becoming Sodhi’s first scalp, and then the leg-spinner went through the Bangladesh batting to get rid of Soumya Sarkar (0), Towhid Hridoy (4), Tamim, and Mahedi (17).
Mahmudullah, also returning to the side after a six-month break, tried to keep the Tigers in the tie but his slowish knock ended on 49 when he dragged a short delivery from Cole McConchie to short fine leg, ending Bangladesh’s hope.
Nasum Ahmed (21) showcased some big shots to reduce the difference before Jamieson got him, and Ferguson ended the tie rattling Khaled’s stumps.
