Bangladesh vs New Zealand- Bangladesh celebrated a remarkable victory over New Zealand on Wednesday, securing a thrilling five-wicket win in the opening match of their three-match Twenty20 series in Napier. The Bangladeshi bowlers were in sensational form, wreaking havoc on the New Zealand batting lineup.
This triumph holds immense significance for Bangladesh as it marks their first-ever Twenty20 win on New Zealand soil. Just four days prior, they had also clinched their maiden away one-day international victory against the Black Caps in Napier.
Expressing his elation, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto exclaimed, “I’m absolutely thrilled and immensely proud of our team’s performance. We played exceptionally well and showcased our true potential.”
Liton Das showcased his resilience and determination as he played a composed innings of 42 not out off 36 deliveries, despite battling cramps. His exceptional performance guided Bangladesh to a remarkable five-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first T20I in Napier today.
As the right-handed opener, Liton anchored the chase brilliantly and received valuable support from Sheikh Mahedi, who remained unbeaten on 19 off 16 deliveries. Together, they led Bangladesh to successfully chase down the target of 134 runs in just 18.4 overs, with five wickets in hand.
Although Bangladesh faced some early setbacks with the dismissals of Rony Talukdar, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Soumya Sarkar, they managed to reach 73 for three in 10 overs. Rony departed after scoring a quick 10 runs off 7 balls, while Shanto contributed 19 runs off 14 balls before getting out. Soumya looked promising with his 22 runs off 15 deliveries but was eventually bowled by Ben Sears.
Bangladesh vs New Zealand -Bowlers provide early impetus
The bowlers also played a crucial role in Bangladesh’s victory. Shoriful Islam, Sheikh Mahedi Hasan, and Mustafizur Rahman were the standout performers as they restricted New Zealand to a total of 134 for nine in their allotted 20 overs. Shoriful claimed three wickets for 26 runs, while Mustafizur finished with two wickets for 15 runs. Sheikh Mahedi also made a significant contribution with two wickets for 14 runs. Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain chipped in with one wicket, while debutant pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib took one wicket but was a bit expensive, conceding 45 runs in four overs.
Sheikh Mahedi proved to be a valuable contributor with the ball, securing two wickets for a mere 14 runs. Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain also made an impact, snagging one wicket. However, debutant pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib proved to be a bit expensive, conceding 45 runs in his four overs for one wicket.
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, James Neesham played a sensational innings for New Zealand, scoring a quickfire 48 runs off just 28 balls. However, Mustafizur Rahman put an end to Neesham’s onslaught by dismissing him with a well-executed low full toss that Neesham played straight into the hands of Afif in the deep. Rishad Hossain also made an impact by breaking the partnership between Mark Chapman and Neesham, taking Chapman’s wicket for 19 runs.
Overall, it was a remarkable performance by Bangladesh, both with the bat and ball, as they secured a convincing victory over New Zealand in the first T20I in Napier.