Bangladesh seal series win over New Zealand after 12yrs

Bangladesh produced a commanding all-round performance to thrash New Zealand by 55 runs in the third and final ODI, sealing the three-match series 2-1 at the Bir Shrestha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram on Thursday (23 April).

This marks Bangladesh's first series win against the Kiwis in 12 years.

After losing the series opener by 26 runs, Bangladesh bounced back strongly to win the next two matches, registering their third consecutive ODI series victory following successes against West Indies and Pakistan, reports BSS.

"It wasn't easy. Boys bowled ​really well... we knew the conditions, that it would spin and fast ⁠bowling would have uneven bounce. We knew early wickets would bring us momentum," said Bangladesh ​captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

A superb century from Najmul Hossain Shanto laid the foundation for the hosts, who posted a competitive 265-8. 

Mustafizur then complemented his effort with a sensational 5-43, a bowling figure that eventually dismissed New Zealand for 210 in 44.5 overs, despite a late blitz from Dean Foxcroft who hammered a six-laden 72 ball-75 with seven sixes.

Shanto struck 105 off 119 balls, hitting nine fours and two sixes, and shared a crucial 160-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Liton Das.

Liton contributed 76 off 91 deliveries with three fours and one six, marking a timely return to form after a prolonged lean patch. His knock ended a 19-match drought without a fifty, providing vital support after Bangladesh had slumped to 32-3 early in the innings.

After his 66 runs against India in Pune during 2023 World Cup, Liton went through a painful streak, which included a sequence of nine-match single digit figure out including four ducks.

New Zealand captain Tom Latham won the toss for the third straight time in the series but this time put Bangladesh into bat first unlike the first two matches. 

Pace bowler Will O'Rourke made the decision preciously right by removing two openers-Saif Hasan and Tanzid Hasan Tamim-in his first two overs.

He sent back Saif for a second-ball duck, moving the ball past him admirably before Tanzid, who struck a fluent 76 in the previous match, was undone by a back-of-length delivery that rattled his stump.

Soon after he struck again when Soumya Sarkar dragged a delivery onto this stump to be out on 18, leaving Bangladesh at 32-3.

O'Rourke was the stand out bowler for New Zealand, finishing with 3-32.

Shanto snapped his fifty-less streak in the previous game by hitting exact 50 but had to retire due to muscle-cramp.

He showed no sign of injury under testing conditions, attacking New Zealand bowlers right from the words go.

Liton Das played a perfect foil to him, making the visiting bowlers disarray further.

Shanto brought up his fifty off 71 balls, guiding Muhammad Abbas to deep squar-leg for a single. Liton, meanwhile, raised his 13th half-century off 70 balls.

Left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox broke the partnership by getting rid of Liton but Shanto played a calculative cricket to reach his fourth ODI century off 114 balls with a single off the same bowler.

Soon after Lennox got the better of Shanto who looked visibly tired after batting more than three hours in scorching hit.

After his dismissal, Bangladesh lost some wickets in quick succession before Hridoy hit some lusty blows to take the side past 250. Hridoy was not out on 33 while captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz was the other notable contributor with 22.

Lennox and Ben Lister, the only change of New Zealand took two wickets apiece. 

Mustafizur and Nahid Rana who took 2-37, following his 5-32 in the previous match ripped out New Zealand top order but Nick Kelly kept the runs flowing.

Fresh from his 83, Kelly brought up his second consecutive fifty to keep the side in the hunt before Mustafizur dismissed him on 59.

Mustafizur took three wickets in 17 balls to complete his sixth five-wicket haul, leaving New Zealand 160-9 but Dean Foxcroft delayed the inevitable with six-hitting spree that gave the visitors a chance of an unlikely victory.

Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz ended his attacking show to help Bangladesh wrap up the series.

The two sides will now contest in a three-match T20 series, starting on 27 April at the same venue.