Bangladesh started this ODI series at home by losing to New Zealand. However, the Tigers turned around in the next match. As a result, the last match became the series decider. Najmul Hossain Shanto scored a century in this important match. After the batters, the bowlers also turned the tables on the Kiwis, especially Mustafizur Rahman. This left-arm pacer's fifer somehow got New Zealand all out after touching 200. The Tigers won the series 2-1 with a 55-run win.
After losing the toss in Chattogram, Bangladesh batted first and scored 265 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in stipulated 50 overs. Najmul Hossain Shanto scored the highest 105 runs for the team. In reply, New Zealand were all out after running in the over. Mustafizur was the best bowler for the Tigers, taking 5 wickets for 30 runs.
Chasing a target of 266, New Zealand did not get off to a good start. Mustafizur Rahman gave Bangladesh a breakthrough with the new ball. The left-arm pacer struck the first blow in the Kiwi camp in the fourth over of the innings. Henry Nicholls could not handle Mustafiz's bounce with the second ball, and the ball went to the top edge and landed in the gloves of wicketkeeper Liton Das. Nicholls returned for 4 runs, breaking the opening partnership of 8 runs.
Another opener, Will Young, could not extend the innings despite settling in at the wicket. Young took a catch behind the wicket while trying to poke a length ball outside the off-stump bowled by Nahid Rana. Before returning to the dressing room, he scored 19 runs from 25 balls.
After losing by 54 runs for 2 wickets, Tom Latham had a big responsibility on his shoulders. But the captain increased the danger for the team on the contrary. Miraz bowled the fifth ball of the 17th over of the innings over middle stump, where he tried to sweep it and the ball went to Shariful, who was standing at short fine leg, through the top edge. Latham scored 5 runs off 13 balls.
When the team was in danger after losing 3 wickets for 61 runs, Nick Kelly and Mohammad Abbas tried to recover. Kelly in particular is batting brilliantly. He reached his personal fifty. He played 68 balls to reach this milestone. However, he could not last long after it. He was out for 59 runs off Mustafizur, which broke the fourth wicket partnership of 47 runs.
Abbas, who started well, was bowled by Shoriful. He scored 25 runs off 36 balls. In that, the Kiwis moved far away from the match after losing the fifth wicket for 124 runs. After that, no one else could stand except Dean Foxcroft. His innings of 75 runs only reduced the margin of defeat.
Earlier, Bangladesh scored 265 runs for 8 wickets in the stipulated 50 overs. Najmul Hossain Shanto scored a century in the third and final ODI to decide the series, and wicketkeeper-batter Liton Kumar Das scored a fifty. As a result, the hosts got a challenging capital with their excellent batting. New Zealand captain Tom Latham won the toss and invited Bangladesh to bat in Chittagong. Coming out to bat, opener Saif Hasan made his way to the dressing room with the second ball of the innings. He was caught behind by William O'Urke. The right-handed batsman could not open his personal run account before being dismissed.
Half-century Tanzid Hasan Tamim could not take advantage with the bat in the previous match. He scored 1 run off 5 balls. Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Soumya Sarkar tried to control the team that lost 2 wickets for 9 runs. But this pair could not last long. Soumya was dismissed for 18 runs off 26 balls.
Najmul Hossain Shanto and Liton Kumar Das took charge of the team for the fourth wicket. Although they batted cautiously at the beginning, they gradually started attacking the Kiwi bowlers. That is how Bangladesh's innings started to increase. The two of them scored 160 runs together. That is how the Tigers got a good total. Liton stopped for 76 runs after completing his fifty.
Meanwhile, Shanto also scored a century after completing his fifty. This was the fourth century innings of his ODI career. Shanto's innings stopped for 105 runs. His impeccable innings played in 119 balls was studded with 9 fours and two sixes.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
