Bangladesh defeated New Zealand by 40 runs in the second ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three match series. The win was Bangladesh’s sixth in a row against the Kiwis and ensured a second successive victory against them.
Winning the toss, captain Mushfiqur Rahim elected to bat and Bangladesh got off to a solid start as openers Tamim Iqbal and debutant Shamsur Rahman Shuvo saw of a tight new ball spell from Kyle Mills and Tim Southee. The Kiwi paceman generated decent pace and got good bounce to keep the Tigers openers on the back foot, but Tamim and Shuvo saw the period through patiently as they put on 63 patient runs.
Tamim was the more aggressive while Shuvo was understandably cautious on his debut. Gradually, debutant gained in confidence and unleashed two fierce pull shots, both of which went for six in the 15th over from Nathan McCullum. The opening stand came to an end when Shuvo jumped out to drive only to miss the ball and be stumped for 25 from 54 balls.
New man Mominul Haque batted fluently for his 31 as he added 47 with Tamim for the second wicket. After striking five sweetly timed boundaries, Mominul’s 34-ball knock came to an end when he miscued a pull shot off Corey Anderson to be caught at deep point by Nathan McCullum.
Mominul’s aggressive approach seemed to have rubbed off on his partner who began to play with greater belligerence after the middle order batsman’s departure. Tamim brought up his 25th fifty from 76 balls but was out soon afterwards, dragging Anderson back onto the stumps after making 58 from 85 balls. Meanwhile, Mushfiq continued from where he had left of in the first match and played a hurricane innings of 31 off 28 balls with one four and two sixes. He lost his wicket edging a James Neesham ball he had gone down the wicket to after having hit the previous ball for six.
The Bangladesh lower order added useful runs with Mahmudullah and Sohag Gazi scoring 21 and 26 respectively to take the Tigers to a reasonable total of 247 all out. For New Zealand, James Neesham took 4/53 and Corey Anderson 4/40.
New Zealand struggled throughout in their reply in dewy conditions and a low pitch that made stroke play difficult. A combination of pace and spin cast an unyielding web around the Kiwi batsman as they succumbed to 207 all out in 46.4 overs to give Bangladesh its 15 bi-lateral series win.
Opener Hamish Rutherford was dismissed in the fifth over and the Kiwis could not put together a partnership to stabilize the innings. They continued to lose wickets at regular intervals and while Ross Taylor’s 45 from 82 balls and Corey Anderson’s 40-ball 35 offered some resistance, the visitors could not keep up with the required run-rate. At the death, James Neesham and Nathan McCullum made quick runs but by then, it was too late.
For Bangladesh, Mashrafe bin Moratza maintained a good line and length to return figures of 3/43, Sohag Gazi took 3/34 and part-time bowler Mominul Haque chipped in with 2/13.
Summary: Bangladesh 247 (Tamim 58, Neesham 4-53, Anderson 4-40) beat New Zealand 207 (Taylor 45, Mortaza 3-43, Gazi 3-34) by 40 runs - See more at: http://www.dhakatribune.com/cricket/2013/oct/31/memoirs-white-wash-return#sthash.Hlg3FIOJ.dpuf Summary: Bangladesh 247 (Tamim 58, Neesham 4-53, Anderson 4-40) beat New Zealand 207 (Taylor 45, Mortaza 3-43, Gazi 3-34) by 40 runs - See more at: http://www.dhakatribune.com/cricket/2013/oct/31/memoirs-white-wash-return#sthash.Hlg3FIOJ.dpuf Summary: Bangladesh 247 (Tamim 58, Neesham 4-53, Anderson 4-40) beat New Zealand 207 (Taylor 45, Mortaza 3-43, Gazi 3-34) by 40 runs - See more at: http://www.dhakatribune.com/cricket/2013/oct/31/memoirs-white-wash-return#sthash.Hlg3FIOJ.dpuf