The home bowlers took charge on a slow and low wicket at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium as Bangladesh as expected got off to a dominating start in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand Wednesday.
Bangladesh registered their first win in the format against the Kiwis, defeating the visitors by seven wickets with 30 balls remaining.
The Bangladesh attack cornered the visitors, who decided to bat first after winning the toss, and were restricted to 60 runs inside 17 overs.
New Zealand in the process succumbed to their joint-lowest total in T20I cricket, while Bangladesh maintained their winning momentum from the last series against Australia.
Bangladesh had bowled Australia out for 62 in their last T20I last month and have now rolled over New Zealand for a record low total.
Wickets for New Zealand kept falling from the first over of the innings after off-spinner Mahedi Hasan removed debutant opener Rachin Ravindra for a golden duck.
The score on the board soon reeled to nine for four after spinner Shakib al Hasan and Nasum Ahmed joined in the party.
New Zealand captain Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls made a brief effort to rescue the innings as the duo added 34 for the fifth wicket before the former fell to right-arm pacer Saifuddin for 18.
New Zealand lost the remaining five wickets for only 17 as left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman accounted for the last wicket of the innings to finish with three scalps in 2.5 overs conceding 13 runs.
Shakib, Nasum and Saifuddin picked up a couple of wickets to add to Bangladesh’s bowling success in the game.
Bangladesh had a small target to chase but the job was never an easy one because of the pitch.
The hosts had two changes in the batting line-up from the XI that faced Australia in the last game.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das were brought in for Soumya Sarkar and Mosaddek Hossain.
The concern with the openers remained as Mohammad Naim and Liton perished scoring only one each with Bangladesh only on seven in 2.5 overs.
Serniormen Shakib and Mushfiq then took charge and put on 30 for the third wicket before Shakib fell scoring the highest in the innings, 25, to left-arm spinner Ravindra.
Mushfiq remained till the end of the chase unbeaten on 16 with Bangladesh T20I captain Mahmudullah on 14 not out.
With 1-0 lead in the series, Bangladesh will take on the visitors at the same venue in the second game Friday.