Scientists suspect the first complete specimen ever recorded of the world’s rarest whale died from head injuries, an expert said Friday. The first dissection of a spade-toothed whale, a type of beaked whale, was completed last week after a painstaking examination at a research center near the New Zealand city of Dunedin, the local people who led the scientific team, Te Rūnanga Ōtākou, said in a statement issued by the New Zealand Department of Conservation. A near-perfectly preserved 5-meter (16-foot) male was found washed up on a South Island beach in July. It was the first complete specimen ever recorded. There have only been seven known sightings and never of a living spade-toothed whale. Scientists gather to decode puzzle of the world's rarest whale in 'extraordinary' New Zealand study New Zealand conservation agency beaked whale expert Anton van Helden said the whale’s broken jaw and bruising to the head and neck led scientists to believe that head trauma may have caused its death. “We don’t know, but we suspect there must have been some sort of trauma, but what caused that could be anyone’s guess,” van Helden said in a statement. All varieties of beaked whales have different stomach systems and researchers didn’t know how the spade-toothed type processed its food. The scientific team found the specimen had nine stomach chambers containing remnants of squid and parasitic worms, the statement said. Among the more interesting finds were tiny vestigial teeth in the upper jaw. “These little teeth embedded in the gum tells us something about their evolutionary history. It’s remarkable to see this and it’s just another thing that we had no idea about,” van Helden said. “It’s a week I’ll never forget in my life, it’s certainly a highlight and it’s the start of the storytelling around this beautiful animal,” van Helden added. The dissection was also notable because scientists and curators worked together with local Māori people to incorporate Indigenous knowledge and customs into each step of the process. Following the dissection, the local iwi, or tribe, will keep the jawbone and teeth of the whale before its skeleton is displayed in a museum. 3D printing will be used to replicate those parts retained by the iwi. To Māori, whales are a taonga -– a precious treasure -– and the creature has been treated with the reverence afforded to an ancestor. New Zealand is a whale-stranding hotspot, with more than 5,000 episodes recorded since 1840, according to the Department of Conservation. The first spade-toothed whale bones were found in 1872 on New Zealand’s Pitt Island. Another discovery was made at an offshore island in the 1950s, and the bones of a third were found on Chile’s Robinson Crusoe Island in 1986.  

England claimed an eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first test on Sunday, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. New Zealand resumed on day four with only a four-run lead and four wickets in hand. The home side's Daryl Mitchell stood firm with 84 runs, providing a resilient rearguard action before becoming the final wicket to fall, as New Zealand was bowled out for 252 in their second innings. Brydon Carse, in just his third test, took a remarkable 6-42, finishing with match figures of 10-196. England, needing just 104 runs to win, lost Zak Crawley (1) early, followed by Ben Duckett (46), but Jacob Bethell (50*) and Joe Root (23) guided the team to victory at 104-2 in just 12.4 overs, achieving a run rate of over eight runs per over. The win was completed with more than a day and a half to spare. Carse's exceptional bowling performance saw him become the first Englishman since Monty Panesar in 2012 to take 10 wickets in a test overseas. He expressed his pride in the team's efforts, saying, "I'm very proud of the outcome today...we stuck to certain plans and we got our rewards during the game." England's victory was bolstered by Harry Brook's brilliant 171 in their first innings, supported by Ollie Pope (77) and Ben Stokes (88). England posted 499 in reply to New Zealand's 348, taking a crucial 151-run lead. While Carse shone with the ball, England faced a slight injury scare with captain Ben Stokes, who had to leave the field briefly due to a concern with his hamstring strain. However, he returned to complete his role, showing no obvious signs of injury. Read: Kingston Test: Shadman shines with a fifty after rain cut the day England's strong position from the start was further solidified by New Zealand's poor catching, with the hosts dropping seven chances, including multiple opportunities off Brook. Despite Mitchell's valiant effort in New Zealand’s second innings, the game ended with England securing an easy victory. The second test of the series will begin at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Friday. Source: With inputs from agencies 

South Africa was set a winning target of 159 runs against New Zealand in the Women’s T20 World Cup cricket final on Sunday that will produce a first-time champion. New Zealand scored 158-5 in 20 overs at Dubai International Cricket Stadium after South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and opted to bowl. Amelia Kerr top scored for New Zealand with a 38-ball 43. Brooke Halliday hit 38 runs in 28 deliveries and opener Suzie Bates scored 32 in 31. Nonkululeko Mlaba took 2-31 in four overs for South Africa. Both teams fielded an unchanged side from their semifinal wins where South Africa stunned defending champions Australia in the first semi by eight wickets on Thursday, while New Zealand beat West Indies in the second semifinal by eight runs on Friday. Women’s T20 World Cup final: South Africa to bowl first against New Zealand This is South Africa’s second straight final appearance in the tournament. Losing to Australia by 19 runs, it had finished runners-up in its home tournament in 2023, its best result in the tournament. New Zealand, meanwhile, reached the tournament final for the first time since 2010. In the first two editions – 2009 and 2010 – it had lost to England by six wickets in London, and to Australia by three runs in Barbados.

South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and opted to bowl against New Zealand in the Women’s T20 World Cup final on Sunday. Both teams fielded an unchanged side from their semi-final wins where South Africa stunned defending champions Australia in the first semi by eight wickets on Thursday, while New Zealand beat West Indies in the second semi-final by eight runs on Friday. This is South Africa’s second straight final appearance in the tournament. Losing to Australia by 19 runs, it had finished runners-up in its home tournament in 2023, its best result in the tournament history. New Zealand, meanwhile, reached the tournament final for the first time since 2010. In the first two editions – 2009 and 2010 – it had lost to England by six wickets in London, and to Australia by three runs in Barbados. The 2024 T20 World Cup will consequently crown a first-time champion. It is the first time South Africa and New Zealand have crossed paths in a T20 World Cup knockout – New Zealand leads their series 3-2 in past group encounters in the tournament. Both teams finished second in their respective league groups – New Zealand beat India in its all-important opener, as well as Sri Lanka and Pakistan, but lost to Australia thus finishing second in group A. South Africa lost to England, but beat West Indies, Scotland and Bangladesh to qualify second from group B. The pitch at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium should be good for batters on both sides. The average score in the powerplay has gone up at this venue as the tournament has progressed sp a high-scoring game could be on the cards. Lineups: New Zealand: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (captain), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze, Rosemary Mair, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson, Fran Jonas South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Chloe Tryon, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka

New Zealand weathered a nery chase and a superb spell by Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah to win its first test on Indian soil since 1988. New Zealand made 110-2 on a rain-affected final day on Sunday to beat India by eight wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Will Young and Rachin Ravindra shared a 75-run partnership for the third wicket to complete a famous victory after rain had again intervened early in the morning session. Bangladesh's new coach urges Tigers to focus on cricket amid chaos Young finished unbeaten on 48 runs off 76 balls, scoring six fours and a six, while Ravindra was 39 not out off 46 deliveries, hitting six fours. Bumrah finished with 2-29 after a stunning spell that removed both Black Caps openers and also beat the outside edge of the batters time and again, but couldn’t find the luck India desperately needed to make inroads into the Kiwis batting order. After the first day was washed out, India was then bowled out for its lowest test score at home in its first innings – 46 runs on day two. It rebounded with 462 runs in the second innings, but New Zealand’s first innings’ effort of 402 runs — with 134 from Ravindra — had the tourists in the ascendancy throughout. Earlier Sunday, play started an hour late due to a morning shower in Bengaluru. Sarfaraz Khan scores maiden century for India as the home side fights back against New Zealand Bumrah trapped captain Tom Latham lbw for a duck on the second ball of the morning. Latham reviewed, but the TV umpire decision went against him. It was a tough opening spell for the batters, with Devon Conway never looking comfortable against Bumrah. He was out lbw for 17 runs in the 13th over as New Zealand was reduced to 35-2. But Young and Ravindra calmed the nerves of the tourists’ dressing room with their attacking intent and fine stroke play. Once Bumrah’s spell was over, they settled down and attacked the Indian spinners. Kuldeep Yadav went for 8.7 runs per over in his short spell and Ravindra Jadeja didn’t fare much better. The pair put on 50 off 51 balls to lift New Zealand to the target 10 minutes prior to lunch in the extended morning session when Young played a cut shot for four off Jadeja. The second match in the three-test series will be played in Pune starting Thursday and the final match is in Mumbai from Nov. 1.

Sarfaraz Khan scored his maiden century as India continued its comeback on the fourth day of the first cricket test against New Zealand. Khan was unbeaten on 125 runs off 154 balls as India reached 344-3 in its second innings before rain intervened. Rishabh Pant was also batting on 53 runs, with the hosts still trailing by 12 runs. Lunch was called early by 10 minutes as the duo added 113 runs off 132 balls for the unbeaten fourth wicket to continue India’s turnaround after it had been bowled out for just 46 runs in its first innings. New Zealand scored 402 runs in its first innings, thanks to Rachin Ravindra’s 134 runs, taking a lead of 356 runs. India had lost Virat Kohli for 70 runs on the last ball of day three and began from its overnight score of 231-3. Emerging Asia Cup: Bangladesh make flying start beating Hong Kong by 5 wickets Coming into the second test as a replacement for injured Shubman Gill, Khan achieved his maiden hundred in only the fourth test. By lunch on day four, he had hit 16 fours and three sixes before rain stopped his charge. Meanwhile, Pant scored his 18th test half-century off 55 deliveries. Together, the duo put on 100 off just 120 balls as India looked to turn the game around. But Bengaluru's weather intervened — the fourth day began under a dark sky with the constant threat of rain, and it arrived shortly before the scheduled lunch break. Rain washed out all play on the first day on Wednesday. India leads the World Test Championship standings, and a 3-0 win in this series against New Zealand would all but assure its spot for the final at Lord’s next June. India recently beat Bangladesh 2-0. India bowled out for 46 by New Zealand for its lowest test total on home soil New Zealand has already been on a long subcontinental tour. It began with a washed-out test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida, India, followed by a 2-0 series loss in Sri Lanka. The second match in the three-test series will be played in Pune starting next Thursday and the final one in Mumbai from Nov. 1.     END/AP/UNB/SIS

The 2023 T20I series between New Zealand and Bangladesh nears ending through the final match at Mount Maunganui on December 31. Bangladesh hopes to win their first T20I series in New Zealand after a historic win in the first match on December 27th and a rain-affected draw in the second which happened on December 29th. Tigers are leading the series 1-0, while the host Kiwis are eager to level the series.  Let’s take a look at the preview of the final T20I, which promises to be an enthralling battle full of intensity and anticipation. Preview of Bangladesh vs New Zealand Third T20 Match in 2023 Overview of the 2023 BAN vs NZ 1st T20I  Bangladesh secured their first T20I victory on New Zealand soil by defeating a difficult target of 135 in Napier.  Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bowl against New Zealand in the first Twenty20 international at McLean Park. Shoriful Islam's outstanding bowling performance, which included three crucial wickets, was instrumental in restricting New Zealand to their lowest T20I total at home — 134 for 9.  Litton Das played an unbeaten innings of 42 of 36 balls. Besides, Mahedi Hasan played a key role in Bangladesh's successful chase, scoring a quick 19 runs off 16 balls leading the side to victory. Shoriful Islam was outstanding, taking two early crucial wickets, eventually ending with 3 wickets and was critical in limiting New Zealand to their lowest T20I total at home.  The bowlers, including Mahedi Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman with 2 wickets each, contributed significantly to Bangladesh's impressive performance.  Read more: Shoriful, Litton Lead Bangladesh to Historic T20I Win in New Zealand Overview of the 2023 BAN vs NZ 2nd T20I  On Friday, December 29, 2023, during the second Twenty20 international match between Bangladesh and New Zealand at Bay Oval, Bangladesh won the toss and decided to bowl.  New Zealand reached 72 for two after batting first. Tanzim Hasan Sakib took a crucial wicket to end Tim Seifert's quick 43. For 2, Shoriful Islam removed Finn Allen.  Due to persistent rain at Bay Oval, the match was called off after 11 overs. The match's cancellation leaves the series undecided, with the final match on Sunday deciding the winner.  Read more: Persistent rain forces abandonment of 2nd T20I Between NZ and BAN Bangladesh vs New Zealand Head to Head Records in T20I Matches Won by New Zealand Won by Bangladesh Tied N/R 19 14 4 00 01 According to the stats, New Zealand has the upper hand with 14 wins in 19 T20I matches gainsta Bangladesh. Read more: Preview of BAN Vs NZ T20I Series 2023: Fixtures, Schedule, Key Players, Team Probable Bangladesh Squad  Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain),  Litton Kumer Das,   Rony Talukdar, Tawhid Hridoy,     Hossain, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Soumya Sarkar, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Vice Captain),  Mahedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman,  Shoriful Islam,  Hasan Mahmud,  Rishad Hossain,    Tanvir Islam, and Tanzim Hasan Sakib. Probable New Zealand Squad  Mitchell Santner (Captain), Finn Allen,   Mark Chapman, Rachin Ravindra, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham,  Glenn Phillips,  Ben Sears,    Tim Seifert,   Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, and Jacob Duffy. Read more: Overview Of BAN VS NZ ODI Series 2023: Post World Cup Matches Final Verdict Both teams are keen to win the trophy, so the 2023 BAN vs NZ T20 series finale on December 31 is sure to be a competitive match.  Though tigers won the first T20I in the ongoing series, Kiwis are dominating according to stats. Bangladesh may have the advantage due to their recent success in strange environments, but New Zealand will be competitive due to home advantage and the possibility of important players returning to form.  Bangladesh has a realistic chance to make history by winning the series in New Zealand, but the final result may depend on the weather. Read more: Bangladesh Cricket in 2023: Men’s ODI Series- Performance Analysis

The 3-match ODI series between Bangladesh and New Zealand ended on December 23. Though New Zealand clinched the series, the Tigers won their first-ever ODI against the Kiwis on their home soil. From December 27, a 3-match T20I series between these countries will take place at McLean Park in Napier. Before the series begins, let's have a closer look at the fixture, key players, and teams of the 2023 BAN vs NZ T20 series. Fixtures of Bangladesh vs New Zealand T20I Series  Table: Schedule and Venues Match    Date                        Time (Bangladesh Time) Venue  1st T20I    Wednesday, Dec 27, 2023 12:10 pm McLean Park, Napier 2nd T20I Friday, Dec 29, 2023  12:10 pm Mount Maunganui 3rd T20I Sunday, Dec 31, 2023 06:10 pm Mount Maunganui BAN vs NZ T20I Head-to-Head Records Matches          Won by New Zealand Won by Bangladesh Tied      N/R 17 14 3 00 00 The 3 T20I matches that Bangladesh won against New Zealand were held in 2021, where they won the series 3-2 in home ground. Read more: Bangladesh creates history with maiden ODI win in New Zealand Preview of BAN vs NZ T20I Series 2023  Since T20 is the shortest format in the international arena, cricket fans are expected to get more explosive batting from the batters. Team Tigers are looking forward to showing their potential, proving that they are a formidable opponent, not just in their home ground, but also on other grounds as well.   Bangladesh will feel a bit more confident, as they won their last two T20I series against England and Afghanistan in Bangladesh, securing a 3-0  and a 2-0 whitewash, which was a rare occasion for a team, who are not consistent in the shortest format.  This series will be a challenging one for Bangladesh, as they are missing some of their key players in the series, whereas the Kiwis announced a strong squad to build momentum for the next T20 World Cup, which will be hosted by West Indies and the USA in 2024.  Missing Players For Bangladesh Bangladesh does not have some of the team's key players. Shakib Al Hasan, an iconic player, is likely to miss out due to an injury. Speedstar Taskin Ahmed is missing as well, because of his recurring shoulder injury that flared up during the World Cup.  Another senior player on this side, Mahmudullah Riyad, opted to miss out due to personal reasons. Nasum Ahmed, who was a regular name in the T20I side, also missed out due to poor performance in the 2023 ICC World Cup. Read more: From duck to diamond: Soumya reborn with brilliant 169 vs New Zealand Missing Players For New Zealand Kane Williamson and Kyle Jamieson, withdrew their names from New Zealand’s T20I squad against Bangladesh, which will start on December 27. Devon Conway is rested for the T20I due to management workload.   Experience bowler Trent Boult made himself unavailable for the selection. Matt Henry, Michael Bracewell, and Lockie Ferguson are also missing out due to injuries.  Key Players in Bangladesh Squad BCB has already announced a 15-man squad for the upcoming T20I Series against New Zealand, which will begin on December 27.   There are new faces in the squad, also some debutants, while there are others who feature in the side regularly. Now it will be interesting to see how young players made an impact in the Bangladesh Team.  These are some of the key players on the current side, to watch out for. Najmul Hossain Shanto Najmul Hossain Shanto, who was recently appointed as the Bangladesh captain for the whole New Zealand white-ball tour, will be one of the players who can create an impact, which will be beneficial for the team.  His prolific batting at the top order made him an integral part of the national side, as Bangladesh is looking to build a strong team ahead of the next T20 World Cup in 2024.    His recent consistent form against difficult opponents like England and Afghanistan gave the side a platform to chase and defend targets which was lacking, for a while in the T20 arena. As he might grow from the captaincy role he got, he will be more focused on continuing his superb form, despite the challenging conditions in New Zealand. Rishad Hossain One of the debutants in the current line-up, a leg spinner, will look forward to the upcoming T20Is, as he looks to make a valuable contribution, not only with the bowl but also with the bat in hand.  Recently he made his presence felt when he made his debut in the second ODI, where he hit a six from the first ball he faced, which showed a good sign, for the Tigers, who are also looking for someone, to play the pinch-hitting role, in the lower order. Still early times, but he can be a good asset for the side if he can contribute to the team. Tanzim Hasan Sakib A youngster, who played in the U-19 World Cup in 2020, is another prospect for the current national side. He made his international debut a couple of months back and is now proving to be a bright light in the future of Bangladesh cricket.  He bagged 3 wickets in his last ODI, which was the crucial aspect for Bangladesh to knock over New Zealand, and get the victory.  As far as his bowling, he is quite a handful with the bat as well. He can hit a long ball, which sometimes proves vital when putting up a huge total on board. Read more: New Zealand cruise home to win ODI series, Soumya’s century in vain Players to watch in New Zealand Squad  New Zealand has put a strong team for the upcoming series against Bangladesh, featuring regular players, alongside some new faces. Finn Allen Finn Allen, a fine hitter of the cricket ball, is a promising young batsman from New Zealand who could be the one to look out from the New Zealand dugout. His ability to score runs will make him a valuable addition to the current T20I side.  He has some stellar batting prowess, against tough opponents, during the T20 World Cup in 2022, which was exactly what the Kiwis wanted, as they were searching for an explosive opener who could give them a quick start, right from the power play. Glenn Phillips  Glenn Phillips can not only bat, but he can also slog on out for a long distance. He can be quite useful, and more than just a handy right-arm spinner.   Alongside his bat and ball prowess, he is a great fielder. He is the perfect player for T20, where everyone has to be on their toes for the whole innings. As long as he is there on the cricket field, the experience will be truly spectacular, for the cricket fans, on and off the field. Mitchell Santner Last but not certainly not least, the recently appointed captain for the Kiwi side, Mitchell Santner. He is one of the few experienced players in the current New Zealand side.   As he led the team in the past, the management trusted him to deliver the goods as the regular captain Kane Williamson was out due to workload management.  Apart from the captaincy, he is a very important player for the side.  He can provide crucial breakthroughs with the ball in hand. With his skillful left-arm spin bowling, it would be difficult to play around.  His Batting is also an aspect to keep an eye on. He can play the finisher role in the lower end of the innings, which proved to be more than sufficient if you want to chase down a huge target or put up a huge total. Read more: Chennai Super Kings secure Mustafizur Rahman for IPL 2024 Probable Bangladesh Squad Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain),  Litton Kumer Das,   Rony Talukdar, Tawhid Hridoy,     Hossain, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Soumya Sarkar, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Vice Captain),  Mahedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman,  Shoriful Islam,  Hasan Mahmud,  Rishad Hossain,    Tanvir Islam, and Tanzim Hasan Sakib. Probable New Zealand Squad Mitchell Santner (Captain), Finn Allen,   Mark Chapman, Rachin Ravindra, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham,  Glenn Phillips,  Ben Sears,    Tim Seifert,   Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, and Jacob Duffy. Final Words So far, we have discussed the fixtures, schedule, key players, and probable squad of the 2023 Bangladesh vs New Zealand T20I series.  While both teams are similar in terms of experience, Bangladesh will get the upper hand due to the momentum they got after defeating New Zealand in the last ODI they played.  However, New Zealand is way ahead, winning 14 out of 17 matches when facing Bangladesh. Kiwis will look to bounce back from their recent ODI defeat and would like to start the upcoming T20I series with a win and play their cricket in good spirits.  Read more: Overview Of BAN VS NZ ODI Series 2023: Post World Cup Matches

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