Bangladesh VS New Zealand ODI Series
2nd Match Played at SBNCS, Meerpoor, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23 September 2023
New Zealand 254 All Out in 49.2 Overs (Tom Blundell 68, Henry Nicholls 49. Ish Sodhi 35, Cole McConchie 20, Kyle Jamieson 20, Mahedi Hasan 3/45, Khaled Ahmed 3/60. Mustafizur Rahman 2/53)
Bangladesh 168 All out in 41.1 Overs (Mahmudullah Riad 49 Tamim Iqbal 44, Nasum Ahmed 21, Mahedi Hasan 17, Tanzid Hasan Tamim 16, Ish Sodhi 6/39, Kyle Jamieson 2/32)
New Zealand Won the match by 86 runs
Player of the match: Ish Sodhi
Brilliant all-round performance of black cap leg spinner Ish Sodhi (33 Runs and 6/39) crashed team tigers to 86 runs defeat despite of two veterans Mahmudullah Riyad (49) and Tamim Iqbal (44) putting up their hands and delivering.
Their efforts however proved too little, too less. Unfortunately, the inherent weakness of Bangladeshis against quality leg spin showed up yet again. Top order batting struggled in reading cleverly disguised deliveries of Sodhi. Bangladeshi batsmen got completely bamboozled. The tourists went one up in the three matches ODI series. The first match was rain ruined. Series is now at stake for the team tigers.
Once more Bangladesh failed in playing the full quota of the innings. Opting to bat first after winning the toss on a greenish wicket bouncing and gripping New Zealand did well in posting a useful 254 all out. Bangladesh innings was wrapped up at 168. Bangladesh needs bouncing back in the last match due on 26th Tuesday. Bangladesh should bring back regular captain Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim. Taskin and Shoriful for trying out the best combination before the world cup. Bangladesh must try avoiding yet another ODI series loss at home.
Surprisingly rain stayed away, and the match was not interrupted. Lockie Ferguson winning the toss and opting to bat again had top order encountering Mustafizur moving and bouncing on a greenish wicket under dark overcast condition. Fizz blew away Finn Allen and Will Young with two lovely moving deliveries bouncing awkwardly. Debutant Khaled also got rid of Chad Boyes early. Black caps again reduced to 3/36 by overs had to be rescued by well-paced 95 runs 4th wicket partnership between Tom Blundell ( 68) and Henry Nichols ( 49) before Khaled and Mahedi created some tremor in the middle order .However, tails of the black cap wagged as Sodhi ( 33) , Kyle Jamieson (20) and Cole McConchie ( 20) making useful contribution put up a competitive score of 254 all out in 49.2 overs.
All eyes were focused on two veterans Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah Riad back to the team after a while for different reasons. Tamim retired, withdrew, and then had to stay away for nursing injuries. Mahmudullah had to be included in the team after the flawed plans of team management to find his replacement failed. Bangladesh batting was a bit thin on the day as they appeared with only six specialist batsmen adding one more pacer replacing wicket keeper batsman Nurul Hasan Sohan. Tamim looked in his great touch scoring 44 before getting out caught behind to Ish Sodhi. His innings featured with 7 characteristic boundaries. Wickets were falling around him as Bangladesh top order had no answer of dealing with quality leg spin and googlies of Sodhi on a gripping and bouncing track. Soumya (0), Hridoy (4) and Tanzid Tamim (16) had little clues. Litton’s bad patch continued. Crisis man Mahmudullah Riad had to step into the arena in an environment not too unfamiliar to him as the team had its back to the wall at 4/70 in the 15th Over. Tamim was also gone at 92. Riad was left with long tail. He tried his best scoring 49 before getting out. The long tail had no capacity to withstand probing black cap attack though Nasum stuck few hefty blows in his innings of 21. Bangladesh innings got wrapped up at 168 in 41.1 over. Bangladesh once again failed lasting 50 overs. A huge loss by 86 runs. Another reality check for Bangladesh cricket.
Due credit must be given to New Zealand. They were by far the better team on the day and richly deserved the win. Black caps required their five members of world cup squad get used to the South Asian weather and wicket. Finn Allen off course failed in both Innings but Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Ish Sodhi had good exposure. The bowling and fielding were excellent. Bangladesh however, understood ignoring Mahmudullah was a great mistake. Shallow vision cricket followers also understood the value of Tamim and Mahmudullah to Bangladesh cricket. Nasum and Mahedi also proved their necessity for the team. Khaled can be given another match. He is part of test anyway. It is to be decided whether Bangladesh squad should have an additional pace bowler. Taskin and Shoriful should be played in the third match resting Mustafizur and adding another batsman. The experiment with Soumya must also end. Mushfique should also be exposed to New Zealand bowling for match practice.
BDST: 0548 HRS, SEP 24, 2023
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