Coming to the 11th match, Bangladesh registered their maiden T20I victory over New Zealand by seven wickets on Wednesday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah Riyad praised his bowlers for the victory.
In post-match comments he said: “The first match is important and we have to do it again in the remaining matches.”
New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first putting only 60 runs on the board losing all wickets. Bangladesh’s spin department literally went through their batting line-up. Bangladeshi spinners bowled 12 overs in this game and conceded 38 runs to take five wickets.
“It was a disappointing start to the series,” Tom Latham, New Zealand captain said after the match. “We built some partnerships in the middle overs but failed to continue on those. We couldn’t hold on. I hope we can learn from this game and do better in the next matches.”
Chasing 61 for victory, Bangladesh sealed the game in 15 overs with seven wickets in hand despite losing the openers inside seven runs.
Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim posted a 30-run stand and recovered the early damage well.
Shakib fell on 25, but Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah Riyad remained unbeaten on 16 and 14 respectively.
“It’s good to win the first match of the series, and it was also our first win against New Zealand,” man-of-match Shakib told the broadcaster after the match. “It will boost our team and give us confidence for the rest of the series”.
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New Zealand’s 60 for all wickets was their joint-lowest total in T20Is.
On the terribly slow wicket, Mustafizur Rahman bagged three wickets conceding 13 runs while all of Nasum Ahmed, Shakib and Mohammad Saifuddin scalped two wickets each.
New Zealand only managed to score 18 runs in the power play losing four wickets. They had a miserable start as they lost the first wicket in the first over of the match bowled by Mahedi Hasan.
Rachin Ravindra, the debutant, failed to impress as he chipped a return catch and suffered a duck on his debut.
One over later Shakib came and removed Will Young for five. Shakib put it on an in-between length, and the ball didn’t bounce as much as the batsman wanted it. Young missed the ball which eventually hit his stumps.
Nasum struck twice in the fourth over to remove Colin de Grandhomme and Tom Blundell for one and two respectively. Mohammad Naim took a regulation catch at the square leg when Grandhomme tried a mighty slog sweep, and Blundell fell while giving a return catch to the bowler.
In the next six overs, New Zealand didn’t lose any more wickets and reached 40 in 10 overs.
Mahmudullah brought in Saifuddin in the 11th over, and he kept the faith intact removing New Zealand captain Latham for 18.
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In the next over, Shakib removed Cole McConchie for a duck— with this, both of the Blackcaps debutants suffered a duck each. Saifuddin struck again in the next over as Henry Nicholls fell prey to him for 17 with Mushfiqur took a dolly at the long-on.
Bangladesh’s premium T20 bowler Mustafizur struck twice in the 14th over scalping Ajaz Patel and Doug Bracewell for three and five respectively.
Latham and Nicholls were the best batsmen of New Zealand in this match scoring 18 each.
Eventually, New Zealand’s nightmarish batting display ended on 60 for all out, their lowest against Bangladesh. It was also the lowest total by any team against Bangladesh.
The remaining matches of the series will take place on September 3, 5, 8 and 10 respectively at the same venue.