After suffering 18 consecutive losses against New Zealand on their home ground, Bangladesh staged a spectacular comeback at McLean Park in Napier. Even though the hosts had already won the series, which was held from the 17th to the 23rd of December, the final ODI saw an unexpected turn of events. Let's have a look into the overview of the 2023 BAN vs NZ ODI series.   Best Performers in the 2023 Bangladesh Vs New Zealand ODI Series Despite New Zealand dominating the first two matches, Bangladesh completed an exciting comeback with a spectacular victory in the final ODI. The series featured outstanding performances from standout players on both teams, adding an extra layer of excitement to the cricketing match. Table: Top performers in the 2023 BAN vs NZ ODI Series Player Performance Will Young                                                 220 Runs Soumya Sarker  173 Runs Tom Latham 146 Runs Shoriful Islam 6 Wickets  Will Young Will Young, the opener, showcased extraordinary resilience as he blazed through a brisk century, steering New Zealand's remarkable comeback from a challenging beginning. In a rain-interrupted first ODI in Dunedin, Young's stellar performance secured a thrilling 44-run victory over Bangladesh. The dynamic New Zealand opener narrowly missed out on his second consecutive ODI century with 89 runs off 94 balls in a thrilling second ODI against Bangladesh. Young demonstrated his explosive batting prowess once again, unleashing eight boundaries and two towering sixes after his spectacular match-winning performance of 105 in the series opener.  Read more: From duck to diamond: Soumya reborn with brilliant 169 vs New Zealand Soumya Sarker  Soumya Sarkar, making his comeback after missing the World Cup, failed to make an impression with bat and ball. Despite being backed for his medium pace, the 30-year-old all-rounder's bowling does not warrant a place in the ODI squad.  Soumya conceded 63 runs in a 30-over match while bowling the entire six overs.  His return to the national team took a turn for the worse when he was dismissed for a duck in the first over from Adam Milne while chasing a revised total of 245 runs in the first ODI. After a five-year absence, Soumya Sarkar smashed his first century in international cricket in an exciting turn of events that marked a remarkable comeback for Bangladesh.  In the second ODI of the three-match series at Saxton Oval in Nelson, Bangladesh lost by seven wickets against the formidable New Zealand team, despite Soumya's astonishing display of a career-best 169 off just 151 deliveries, which incidentally remains the highest score by an Asian batter in ODIs in New Zealand. Soumya achieved a remarkable milestone and inscribed his name in cricket history in an exciting feat!  He broke the record set by the great Sachin Tendulkar, who accomplished a record-breaking 163 not out against New Zealand in Christchurch in 2009.  Bangladesh achieved a remarkable total of 291 thanks to Soumya's outstanding innings, which also set a new record for their highest-ever ODI score against the Kiwis at home. Even though they lost, Soumya Sarkar's incredible century was a thrilling high point that demonstrated his strength and tenacity in international cricket. In the last ODI, Soumya Sarkar started to cause trouble at McLean Park alongside Sakib, Shoriful! The part-timer has a remarkable impact due to the unanticipated turn of events.  But after a regrettable incident involving his right eye, Soumya is forced to temporarily leave the field, throwing the excitement into a surprising twist.  Read more: New Zealand cruise home to win ODI series, Soumya’s century in vain Tom Latham Tom Latham led the way to a victory in the first match of the series, which was played using the D/LS method rule.  A dynamic partnership between centurion Will Young and skipper Tom Latham, marked by a sensational 171-run stand for the third wicket, propelled New Zealand to a thrilling 1-0 lead over Bangladesh. His innings of 92 runs in 77 balls, set the platform for the rest of the Kiwi batters, to set a staggering target of 245 in 30 overs. Tom Latham, once again proved to be the man that New Zealand can rely on, as he steadied the ship in the 2nd ODI, which they won comfortably by 7 wickets and 22 balls to spare.  After Will Young and Henry Nicholls, each scored 89 and 95 runs respectively, Tom Latham and Tom Blundell batted sensibly and steered them through the second win, eventually leading them to clinch the series. After winning the series, The Kiwis were put in a difficult position from the start, and Shoriful's outstanding second spell made things even worse. He took three crucial wickets during this thrilling phase, including the dismissals of Will Young (26 off 43) and  New Zealand captain Tom Latham (21 off 34). The hosts' batting lineup was destroyed by this outstanding performance, and they were unable to bounce back from the first setback.  In the 3rd ODI, the tides turned drastically for the Kiwis as they were bundled out for a mere 98 runs. Alongside Will Young—who quickly became the series' most memorable performer—exhibited incredible tenacity. They created a thrilling partnership and scored an explosive 36 runs for the third wicket together.  The suspense built to a climax when Shoriful launched an incredible nip-backer that broke through Latham's barriers and started a domino effect.  Read more: Chennai Super Kings secure Mustafizur Rahman for IPL 2024 Shoriful Islam Young Bangladeshi speedster Shoriful did exceptionally well in the 3 ODIs as he walked in the footsteps of Taskin and Mustafizur, becoming another trustful resource in the Bangladesh fast bowling unit.  In the first match, he picked up two wickets that enabled Bangladesh to restrict them within a chasable total. Bangladesh lost the match but it was good for the young bowler. He couldn't make a good impression, as they lost the second match by a big margin. Despite getting only one wicket, he checked the batsmen with his line and length, letting them work for everyone's run, which is a trademark for becoming a better bowler, if not the best.  In the third ODI, he was at his best rhythm, as Bangladesh won their first match after 18 straight losses. He bagged 3 wickets alongside Sakib and Soumya. He took the prize wicket of Will Young, the top scorer of this series, alongside Tom Latham and Mark Chapman.     Overall ODI Performance of Tigers in the Series Against New Zealand It has been an average ride, as Bangladesh was eyeing their first series win against Kiwis, away from home. There were many positives like Soumya making a comeback, and breaking records. Shoriful maintained a good channel.  Though Bangladesh didn't win the series, they had some positives, especially from the bowling of Shoriful who bagged 6 wickets, the most by anyone in this series. He chipped in through the crucial moment for the team, which eventually created pressure for the opponent.  Shanto provided good captaincy throughout the series. Bangladesh can go with their heads up high and move towards the T20Is which will be another cracking series to be dealt with. Overall ODI Performance of Kiwis in the Series Against Bangladesh Kiwis played impressive cricket in the first two matches, securing another series win on their home soil. New Zealand can also take a lot of positives as most of their senior players didn't play this series, giving more opportunities to young cricketers for the future.  Much like the first ODI, Young masterfully dictated the pace of his innings in the 2nd ODI, keeping the formidable Bangladesh bowlers constantly on the defensive. Unfortunately, he couldn't get the momentum going as he fell short of making any impact which ended as a devastating loss and a massive win for Bangladesh.  Will Young ended the year on a high note, following debutants like William O’Rourke, Jacob Duffey, Josh Clarkson, and Adithya Ashok showed an impressive display with the bowl. Final Words  After a disappointing 2023 World Cup campaign, Bangladesh fought valiantly till the end of the BAN vs NZ ODI series and won the last match, ending the series in good spirit before going over to the T20Is. This was by far the best series away from home against the Kiwis. Read more: Bangladesh creates history with maiden ODI win in New Zealand

Afghanistan won the ODI series over Bangladesh by 2-1 at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. This remarkable victory not only marked Afghanistan's first-ever series win in Bangladesh but also brought an end to a rare winning streak held by the Tigers. The recent defeat against Afghanistan in the ODIs marked only the third time that the Bangladesh men's team has experienced a series loss at home since 2015. Best Performers in the 2023 Bangladesh vs Afghanistan ODI Series Although the Afghans dominated the first two matches, Bangladesh got a big win in the last ODI. But, few players from both teams have contributed significantly throughout the series. Read more: Analysis of BAN vs AFG 3rd ODI 2023  Table: Top performers in the 2023 BAN vs AFG ODI Series Player Performance Rahmanullah Gurbaz 173 runs Ibrahim Zadran 142 runs Litton Das 92 runs Fazalhaq Farooqi 8 wickets Shakib Al Hasan 4 wickets and 79 runs Rahmanullah Gurbaz Rahmanullah Gurbaz's batting performance in the three-match ODI series was a mix of ups and downs. In the first ODI, he contributed with 22 runs from 44 balls, displaying a steady but conservative approach at the crease. Read more: Analysis of BAN vs AFG 2nd ODI 2023 However, his true potential shone through in the second ODI, where he delivered a breathtaking batting display. Gurbaz blazed his way to a phenomenal knock of 145 runs from just 125 balls, including an impressive tally of 13 boundaries and 8 sixes. This remarkable innings demonstrated his ability to dominate the opposition and score runs at a rapid pace. Unfortunately, in the third ODI, Gurbaz could not replicate his previous form and managed only 6 runs from 22 balls. Ibrahim Zadran In the first ODI, he played a patient innings, scoring an unbeaten 41 runs from 58 balls before rain interrupted the match, depriving him of further opportunities to showcase his skills. However, he made a significant impact in the second ODI, crafting a remarkable century. Zadran showed his class and consistency by scoring 100 runs from 119 balls, providing a solid foundation for his team's total. Read more: Tamim Iqbal's International Cricket Career Overview: Records and Achievements Unfortunately, in the final ODI, he endured a brief stint at the crease, contributing just 1 run from 6 balls. However, his century in the second ODI was particularly noteworthy, showcasing his talent and potential as a valuable asset in the ODI format for Afghanistan. Litton Das Among all the Bangladeshi batters, Litton scored the highest runs combining three matches. His total score was 92 runs. In the first ODI, he played a brief innings, contributing a solid 26 runs from 35 deliveries. The second innings was not good either; he scored 13 runs from 15 deliveries. However, it was in the third ODI where Das truly stood out, delivering an exceptional unbeaten knock of 53 runs from 60 deliveries. His innings played a vital role in guiding his team to victory, highlighting his temperament and skill in constructing an innings. Read more: Analysis of BAN vs AFG 1st ODI 2023 Fazalhaq Farooqi Fazalhaq Farooqi displayed an impressive bowling performance throughout the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh. In the first ODI, Farooqi made an immediate impact by bowling 8.4 overs and taking an impressive haul of 3 wickets. His economy rate of 2.76 highlighted his ability to restrict the opposition's scoring rate effectively. Later Farooqi continued his excellent form in the second ODI, too, bowling 7.2. In the 3rd ODI, Farooqi once again proved to be a valuable asset to his team, as he picked up 2 wickets in his 5 overs. Shakib Al Hasan Although the overall performance of the team in the entire series was not up to expectations, Shakib Al Hasan was in perfect rhythm with the ball. This has also improved his ranking. Shakib took 4 wickets in 3 matches against Afghans. Among them, he took 1 wicket for just 9 runs in the first ODI, 2 for 50 runs in the second match, and 1 wicket for just 13 runs in 10 overs in the third match.   According to the latest rankings published on Wednesday, the left-arm spinner has climbed three places to the 10th position. His rating point is 618. Shakib also contributed 79 runs in three matches. Overall Stats of 3 ODI Matches Table: Overview of stats in the 2023 BAN vs AFG ODI Series Matches Bangladesh Afghanistan 1st ODI 169/9 83/2 Afghanistan won by 17 runs (DLS method) 2nd ODI 189/10 331/9 Afghanistan won by 142 runs 3rd ODI 129/3 Bangladesh won by 7 wickets (with 159 balls remaining) 126/10 Overall ODI Performance of Tigers in the Series Against Afghanistan The overall performance of the Bangladesh cricket team in the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan had its share of highs and lows. In the first ODI, Bangladesh's batting struggled as they lost wickets regularly and could only manage a total of 169 runs. Rain interruptions further hampered their progress, and the team couldn't put up a competitive fight. However, Towhid Hridoy's innings of 51 from 69 balls provided some stability amidst the batting collapse. Read more: Women's T20I: India defend 95 to seal series win against Bangladesh In the second ODI, Bangladesh once again faced a batting collapse, losing early wickets and finding themselves in a precarious position. Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim attempted to save the innings, but their contributions were not enough to get a significant total. The team was eventually all out for 189 runs, with Mushfiqur Rahim's knock of 69 providing some hope. In the third ODI, Bangladesh's bowling unit showcased their dominance as they restricted Afghanistan to a lowest total of 126 runs. Shoriful Islam's outstanding performance, taking four wickets for 21 runs, played a crucial role in dismantling the Afghan batting lineup. Shakib Al Hasan's economical bowling, conceding only 13 runs in his 10 overs, further boosted Bangladesh's dominance. Overall ODI Performance of Afghanistan against Bangladesh The overall performance of the Afghanistan cricket team in the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh showcased some notable achievements as well as areas for improvement. Afghans showed their bowling skill in the first ODI while the rain stopped their batting innings. In the second ODI, Afghanistan's batting had a solid start, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran setting a record-breaking partnership of 256 runs, the highest for any wicket in Afghanistan's ODI history. However, the team faced a significant collapse after the openers were dismissed, losing 9 wickets for just 75 runs. Their final total of 331 runs for 9 wickets showcased their strong start but also highlighted a lack of stability in the middle and lower order. Read more: BAN vs AFG Series 2023: Bangladesh T20 Squad Analysis In the third ODI, Afghanistan's batting faltered as they failed to capitalize on the strong start. The team put up a miserable batting performance, managing only 126 runs, the lowest team score against Bangladesh. Azmatullah Omarzai's innings of 56 runs was the only significant contribution, as other batsmen struggled to score. Fazalhaq Farooqi's bowling performance of two wickets stood out in an otherwise disappointing batting display. Overall, while Afghanistan had moments of brilliance in their batting, particularly with the record-breaking partnership in the first ODI, they lacked consistency and stability throughout the series. The team will need to address their middle and lower-order batting concerns to ensure better overall performances in the future. Additionally, maintaining a balance between their batting and bowling strengths will be crucial for Afghanistan's success in upcoming tournaments like the Asia Cup and World Cup. Final Words Over the years, Bangladesh has established a tough record on their home turf, displaying remarkable dominance by clinching victories against renowned teams such as India, Pakistan, and South Africa. But, the 1-2 loss against the Afghans in the 2023 Ban vs AFG ODI Series has faded all those records of Bangladesh. Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Schedule, Fixtures, Venues, Team List