Following an early top-order shambles, a 154-run fourth wicket partnership between Mushfiqur Rahim and Naeem Islam helped the Tigers post a decent 265/10 in the first innings of the opener of the three-match ODI series at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National stadium today. It is Bangladesh’s highest total in an innings against New Zealand.
The skipper Mushfiqur was unlucky for not getting his second ODI hundred as the wicketkeeper-batsman got dismissed on 90 featuring eight boundaries and two 6s in his 98-ball innings. James Neesham picked up four wickets including Mushfiqur's one to restrict the Tigers to 265.
Naeem Islam proved to be a worthy replacement for Shakib Al Hasan, who is set to miss the three-match ODI series being diagnosed with dengue fever, playing a solid 84-off-115 innings. Bangladesh were 25/3 when Naeem came on the pitch knowing he had to respond sensibly and could only add only one run to his name in the first 24 balls he faced. The right-handed batsman didn’t take much time to switch to his natural mood and reached his fourth 50 in 75 balls.
Earlier, the duo rescued the Tigers from a disastrous start which saw them lose three early wickets of dashing opener Tamim Iqbal, Mominul Haque and Anamul Haque. New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum must have been considered himself lucky for winning the toss on a batting-friendly pitch.
The Bangladesh top-order collapsed when Kiwi pacer Tim Southee picked up two wickets including the vital Tamim’s. Tamim was trapped leg before 5 in the last ball of Southee’s second over.
The following over, Mominul, who had an incredible time in the Test series, had to return to the pavilion with a diamond duck as a wrong call from Anamul, who was on strike, saw him run out without facing a single ball.
However, Anamul could not last long as he became the second victim of Southee in the 7th over. Southee later took another vital wicket of Naeem Islam.
Neesham, who took four wickets for 42, slowed down the Bangladesh innings picking up two quick wickets of Mushfiqur Rahim and Nasir Hossain.
Meanwhile, Shakib Al Hasan, the man of the series from the last time the two sides met in 2010, was ruled out because of fever. Naeem Islam replaced Shakib, while Anamul Haque was picked to open the batting with Tamim Iqbal.
Rubel Hossain was also selected after missing out on the ODI series against Zimbabwe last May due to chicken pox. Mashrafe Mortaza made his comeback into the team, having last played an ODI against West Indies last year.
New Zealand left out Kyle Mills and picked allrounder James Neesham, while Anton Devcich made his ODI debut. Tom Latham, Colin Munro and Adam Milne were left out of the playing XI.
New Zealand: 1 Hamish Rutherford, 2 Anton Devcich, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Grant Elliott, 6 Brendon McCullum (capt & wk), 7 Corey Anderson, 8 James Neesham 9. Nathan McCullum, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Mitchell McClenaghan
Bangladesh: 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Anamul Haque, 3 Mominul Haque, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), 5 Naeem Islam, 6 Nasir Hossain, 7 Mahmudullah, 8 Sohag Gazi, 9 Abdur Razzak, 10 Mashrafe Mortaza, 11 Rubel Hossain.
