Bangladesh defeated New Zealand by 43 runs in the first ODI match in a rain curtailed game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.
After being put in to bat, Bangladesh lost three quick wickets but a 154-run fourth wicket partnership between captain Mushfiqur Rahim and Naeem Islam helped the side recover and post a competitive total of 265 all out. In reply, New Zealand had scored 82/3 when rain forced the players off the field.
The Kiwis target was revised to 206 from 33 overs via Duckworth-Lewis System (D/L) – meaning they needed to score 124 in 13 overs. They were bowled out for 162 in 29.5 overs with one man absent hurt to give Bangladesh the win.
Bangladesh were put in to bat and reduced to 25/3 when Naeem joined skipper Mushfiq at the wicket. With the former anchoring the innings, Mushfiq counter-attacked in fine style. Naeem, who only made it into the team after Shakib al Hasan was ruled out with illness, scored just one run from his first 24 balls but thereafter matched his captain stroke for stroke and reached his fifty off 75 balls.
Mushfiq eventually fell trying to steer a ball from Neesham to third man only to edge the ball through to the keeper. Neesham, who returned figures of 4-42, removed the dangerous Nasir Hossain immediately afterwards but Naeem and Mamudullah added 51 for the next wicket.
Naeem was eventually out for a career-best 84 from 115 balls as quick runs from the lower order saw Bangladesh to 265 as they were bowled out on the penultimate ball of the innings.
In reply, New Zealand had advanced to 82/3 by the 20th over as the game hung in the balance when rain interrupted play. In all, rain washed out 17 overs of play and left New Zealand needing 124 more runs from 13 overs.
The match remained even until the 24th over when Rubel Hossain broke the back of the Kiwi batting with a stunning hat-trick. He first bowled Corey Anderson, who made a dashing 31-ball 46, as the left-handed batsman went for a wild slog to a straight ball. Brendon McCullum could only fend his first ball, which jumped up at him, to gully, and Neesham gloved a ball down the leg-side where it was well caught by Mushfiq.
Any hopes New Zealand had of a win lay on the shoulders of Grant Elliot, who continued to keep pace with the demanding run-rate. He too was removed by Rubel when he miscued a lofted straight drive and was caught in the deep for a brave 77-ball 71 which included six fours and two sixes. As New Zealand were bowled out, Rubel took 6-26 – the joint best figures by a Bangladeshi in ODI cricket, and was named man-of-the-match.
