Tigers beat Kiwis by 6 wickets, level series 1-1

Bangladesh today (20 April) beat New Zealand by six wickets in the 2nd ODI of the ongoing series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, levelling the series 1-1.

The Tigers won the match with 87 balls remaining, banking on the fifties of Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto.

Nahid's fiery bowling helped Bangladesh bowl New Zealand out for just 198 in 48.4 overs, a total the hosts chased down effortlessly by reaching 199-4 with 87 balls remaining.

Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim hammered a fluent 58 ball-76 while Najmul Hossain Shanto made 50 before retiring hurt, ensuring Bangladesh eased past the target despite testing condition and extreme heat.

After winning the toss, New Zealand captain Tom Latham opted to bat first, but his side struggled to cope with Nahid's express pace on a slow and uneven surface. Bangladesh came into the match trailing 1-0 following a 26-run defeat in the opening game.

Opener Nick Kelly stood tall with a composed 83 off 102 balls, striking 14 fours to register his maiden fifty-plus score in ODIs and guide the visitors close to the 200-mark. 

However, he received little support from the rest of the batting lineup, with no other batter crossing 20.

New Zealand began cautiously on a sluggish pitch where the ball frequently kept low, making stroke-play extremely difficult. 

Nahid made the early breakthrough, clocking 144.7 kph to dismiss Henry Nicholls. He struck again in his next over to remove Will Young, before Latham edged one behind to wicketkeeper Liton Das, giving Soumya Sarkar his only wicket after returning to the side in place of Afif Hossain.

Despite Kelly's resistance, Nahid continued to rip through the middle order with pace and aggression. 

Shoriful Islam eventually removed Kelly with a short-pitched delivery and later dismissed Blair Tickner to finish with 2-32.

Nahid completed his second ODI five-wicket haul by clean bowling Jayden Lennox for a duck. 

He nearly had a sixth when Will O'Rourke survived a review, but Taskin Ahmed later dismissed him to wrap up the innings.

Bangladesh's chase began with a minor hiccup as pacer Nathan Smith removed Saif Hasan and O'Rourke dismissed Soumya cheaply, reducing the hosts to 21-2 in the fourth over.

However, Tanzid and Shanto put on a match-defining 120-run partnership for the third wicket to take control. Lennox briefly struck twice with his wily off-spin, dismissing Tanzid and Liton, who was playing his 100th ODI, but the outcome was no longer in doubt.

A muscle cramp forced Shanto to retire shortly after reaching his 12th ODI fifty, his first since February 2025, but by then Bangladesh were firmly in command.

Towhid Hridoy and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz then guided the side home unbeaten on 30 and 8 respectively.

The series is now level 1-1, with the decider set to be played in Chattogram on Thursday (23 April).