Bangladesh Secures Historic Away T20I Victory Over New Zealand
In a momentous achievement, Bangladesh registered a thrilling five-wicket win over New Zealand in the opening match of the three-match T20I series in Napier. This landmark victory marked Bangladesh’s first-ever triumph in a T20I match on New Zealand soil.
Initially, the target of 135 seemed challenging for Bangladesh. However, opener Litton Das displayed tremendous composure, leading the chase and guiding his team to a 1-0 lead over New Zealand. Litton played a patient innings while his batting partners got off to promising starts but failed to convert them into substantial scores.
Defending a modest total of 134, New Zealand’s spinners created some hope for the home fans by dismissing Bangladesh’s top-order batsmen, Rony Talukdar and Najmul Hossain Shanto, early on. However, Litton found able support from Soumya Sarkar and Towhid Hridoy, and together they took Bangladesh to 96-4 after 13 overs. The visitors encountered a slight hiccup, losing three quick wickets and struggling at 97-5.
Yet, Litton’s resilience shone through as he unleashed an attacking display. He smashed Adam Milne for a boundary in the 16th over and followed it up with 10 runs off Ben Sears in the 18th over, including a lofted drive that went for a maximum but was caught by Ish Sodhi beyond the boundary line. Sears’ over, which leaked 14 runs, released the pressure on Bangladesh and swung the game in their favor. Mahedi Hasan, batting at number seven, provided valuable support to Litton.
With just a few runs required, Mahedi sealed the victory for Bangladesh by hitting a six over cover off Milne, followed by taking two runs in the deep, and then executing a well-placed chip shot for a four on the off side. This comprehensive win was a testament to Bangladesh’s determination and ability to handle pressure.
Earlier, New Zealand had a shaky start, losing three wickets before finishing at 134 for nine in their allotted 20 overs. James Neesham top-scored for the hosts with 48 runs, while Mitchell Santner contributed 23 runs. Shoriful Islam was the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh, claiming three wickets for 26 runs.
In summary, Bangladesh’s historic victory over New Zealand in the first T20I not only secured their first-ever win on New Zealand soil but also showcased their ability to overcome challenges and emerge triumphant. This victory will undoubtedly boost Bangladesh’s confidence as they look to maintain their winning momentum in the remainder of the series.
Brief score: New Zealand 134/9 (James Neesham 48, Mitchell Santner 23; Shoriful Islam 3-26) vs Bangladesh 137/5 (Litton Das 42*, Soumya Sarkar 22; James Neesham 1-7).
Bangladesh achieved a historic five-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first match of the three-match T20I series. This was Bangladesh’s first-ever T20I win on New Zealand soil. Litton Das played a crucial role in the chase, anchoring the innings and guiding Bangladesh to a 1-0 lead. Despite a challenging target of 135, Litton held his nerve and received support from Soumya Sarkar and Towhid Hridoy. After losing three quick wickets, a 14-run over broke New Zealand’s grip on the game, and Mahedi Hasan finished it off with a six and boundary. Earlier, New Zealand struggled in their innings, reaching 134 for nine after 20 overs.
Disclaimer: Only the headline and content of this report may have been reworked by Newsearay, staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed. The Article was originally published on Source link
