Though the series was lost, the Bangladesh National Cricket Team will not leave New Zealand empty-handed. The Najmul Hossain Shanto-led side have beaten the Blackcaps on their own turf for the first time in history, courtesy of a superb performance with the ball
For the first time in history, Bangladesh have won a One-Day International cricket match in New Zealand. And the Bangla Tigers, who had previously lost 18 straight 50-over games as visitors, did it in some style. Now, they will be more than motivated to take on the Blackcaps in the three-match T20I series, which starts on December 27. (Scorecard | Cricket News)
Having already conceded the three-match ODI series after losing the first two matches by 44 runs and seven wickets in Dunedin and Nelson, respectively, Najmul Hossain Shanto & Co. needed to play for more than pride. They were chasing history, trying to become the first Bangladesh side to win an ODI in New Zealand. What followed after the toss was, well, momentous for Bangladesh cricket.
Bowling first at McLean Park on Saturday (December 23, local time), Bangladesh dismissed New Zealand for 98 in 31.4 overs -- the lowest-ever total in ODIs between the two teams. The venue is known for its batting-friendly nature, with an average first innings score in ODIs of 239. But Bangladeshi bowlers were at their best.
Shoriful Islam (3/22), Tanzim Hasan Sakib (3/14) and Soumya Sarkar (3/18) claimed three wickets each to trigger an unlikely Kiwi collapse in Napier. For the hosts, only opener Will Young (26 off 43) and captain Tom Latham (21 off 34) managed to cross the 20-run mark. New Zealand's previous lowest ODI score against Bangladesh was 162.
In reply, Bangladesh took just 91 balls to complete the chase despite an early blow to opener Soumya Sarkar, who retired hurt after suffering an eye injury. But captain Shanto, who made an unbeaten 51 off 42 balls, and opener Amanul Haque (37 off 33) ensured a first ODI win for the visitors against the Kiwis in New Zealand in 19 attempts.
Tanzim Hasan Sakib, who produced a career-best bowling figure, won the Player of the Match award, while Will Young claimed the Player of the Series honours for his 220 runs.
After the historic win, the 21-year-old bowling all-rounder from Sylhet conceded that "the wicket really helped" him. "The ball was nipping, the ball was swinging and I knew how we started would set the tone for my team... I tried to bowl wicket to wicket and hold my line and length."
Shanto, who also hit the winning runs, basked in the win and hailed "the way the boys played". Only last month, he was named captain of Bangladesh's ODI and T20I sides, and the tour of New Zealand was his first assignment in the new role.
"Before the series, we thought we could win this series. Could not win the first two matches but thankfully we could win today," added the 25-year-old batting all-rounder. "The bowlers learned a lot. They were bowling in the good areas, and did not go looking for wickets."
Brief scores: New Zealand - 98 all out in 31.4 overs (Tanzim Hasan Sakib 3/14, Soumya Sarkar 3/18); Bangladesh - 99/1 in 15.1 overs (Najmul Shanto 51 not out, Anamul Haque 37).