Bangladesh clinched a historic nine-wicket win over New Zealand in the third and final one-day international (ODI) on Saturday (December 23).
However, New Zealand won the three-match series 2-1 after winning the first match by 44 runs and the second by seven wickets.
In the final match, Bangladesh spent only 15 overs with the bat to complete a nine-wicket win, ending New Zealand's winning streak in ODIs at home at 17 matches.
After rolling New Zealand for 98 in 31.4 overs, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto made an unbeaten 51 from 42 balls and Amanul Haque 37 from 33 to lead Bangladesh to its first ODI win over the Kiwis in New Zealand in 19 attempts.
Bangladesh gained a measure of revenge Saturday and primed itself for the upcoming Twenty20 series, bowling New Zealand out for its lowest ever total in ODIs between the teams.
Earlier, Tanzim Hasan Sakib took 3-14 and Shoriful Islam 3-22 — both career bests — as Bangladesh rolled New Zealand cheaply to set up a dominant victory. Soumya Sarkar chipped in with 3-18 as New Zealand fell below its previous lowest ODI score against Bangladesh of 162.
Bangladesh captain Shanto was delighted to be able to choose to field when he won the toss. The McLean Park pitch usually is one of the best to bat on in New Zealand with an average first innings score in ODIs of 239.
But the pitch was unusually well-grassed and Shoriful and Sakib took full advantage, crashing through the New Zealand top order to leave it reeling at 6-70.
Both bowlers tied the New Zealand batters down by bowling into the stumps and swinging the ball both ways. They hit excellent lengths and the ball occasionally spat off a length which made the batters reluctant to play forcefully off the front foot.
The largest partnership in the innings was the 36 between Will Young (26) and Tom Latham (21) for the third wicket. Only two other New Zealand batters reached double figures.
It was Bangladesh’s first ODI win over the Black Caps on New Zealand soil, where they had lost the 18 previous fixtures since their first attempt in 1990.
BDST: 1106 HRS, DEC 23, 2023
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