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

New Zealand comfortably chased down Bangladesh's challenging total of 291 to win the second BAN vs NZ ODI by seven wickets and clinch the three-match series with one match remaining. The victory was fueled by composed half-centuries from Henry Nicholls (95) and Will Young (89). Soumya Sarkar was the undisputed star for Bangladesh, smashing a career-best 169 – the highest ODI score by any Asian batter on New Zealand soil. However, his heroics were not enough to compensate for the lack of support from the rest of the batting lineup. Apart from Soumya and a fighting 45 from Mushfiqur Rahim, the middle order collapsed, leaving Bangladesh's total short of a truly threatening one. William O'Rourke and Jacob Duffy, with three wickets each, were the standout bowlers for New Zealand, effectively restricting Bangladesh's late flourish. From duck to diamond: Soumya reborn with brilliant 169 vs New Zealand In response, the Kiwis' chase was a clinical affair. Nicholls and Young laid the foundation with a commanding century partnership, taking the pressure off the middle and lower order. The wicket, admittedly offering little assistance to the bowlers, further aided their dominance. Bangladesh's bowling lacked penetration on a traditionally batter-friendly surface. Debutant leg-spinner Riashad Hossain failed to pick up a wicket. Hasan Mahmud was the best Bangladeshi bowler in this match with two scalps, but his expensive spell, 57 runs in 7 overs, reflected the overall struggles of the Bangladeshi attack. Chennai Super Kings secure Mustafizur Rahman for IPL 2024 The final match of the BAN vs NZ ODI series will be played on December 23, followed by a three-match T20I series commencing on December 27. Both Bangladesh and New Zealand will be looking to end the tour on a high note in the remaining matches. Bangladesh aim to bounce back in 2nd ODI vs New Zealand

After a prolonged period of struggles, Soumya Sarkar roared back to life with a dazzling century against New Zealand. In the second BAN vs NZ ODI in Nelson, Soumya blazed 169 runs off 151 balls, peppering his innings with 22 fours and two sixes. This knock marked a monumental turnaround for the left-hander who last reached a half-century in 2019. The following years saw him sidelined from the ODI team in 2020, failing to impress in his limited opportunities in 2021, and dropped again in 2022. His return under head coach Chandika Hathurusingha began with two consecutive ducks in 2023, raising questions about his selection. However, Hathurusingha remained committed to Soumya, and the faith paid off spectacularly. Bangladesh aim to bounce back in 2nd ODI vs New Zealand The opener unleashed his fury on the Kiwis, dispatching deliveries to all corners of the ground. In doing so, he not only stood tall amidst Asian batters on New Zealand soil but also etched his name in record books. His 169 surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's 163 not out in Christchurch in 2009, claiming the mantle of the highest ODI score by an Asian batter in New Zealand. This was Soumya’s third ODI century, adding to his previous accomplishments in 2015 and 2018. Fueled by his career-best knock, Bangladesh piled up a formidable total of 291 all out in the second ODI against New Zealand. Bangladesh lost the first match. If the Tigers can defend this total on Wednesday (December 20, 2023), the last match will turn into a final of this series. Triumphant U-19 boys eager to keep shining