Najmul Hossain Shanto delivered a commanding ODI hundred and Mustafizur Rahman produced a match-winning five-wicket spell as Bangladesh defeated New Zealand by 55 runs on Thursday, clinching the three-match series 2-1. The win marked Bangladesh’s third consecutive ODI series triumph, following earlier successes against West Indies and Pakistan.
Batting first, Bangladesh posted 265 for 8. Shanto struck 105 as he coped with intense conditions, playing in 34-degree heat. Earlier in the series, he had retired hurt on 50 in the previous match due to cramps, before returning to deliver this century.
Bangladesh were reduced to 32 for 3 before Shanto and Liton Das put together a crucial 160-run partnership. Liton made 76, reaching his first ODI fifty since October 2023.
New Zealand were bowled out for 210 in 44.5 overs. Mustafizur finished with figures of 5 for 43, his first five-wicket haul since the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
For the chase, Nick Kelly top-scored with 59, while Dean Foxcroft struck 75 off 72 deliveries, including seven sixes.
New Zealand opted to bowl first and made an early impact by removing both openers along with Soumya Sarkar. However, when Will O’Rourke returned, Shanto had already moved to 89 and Liton was on 56, setting up a platform for the partnership to grow.
At the other end, Muhammad Abbas bowled five overs for 16 runs without taking a wicket.
Shanto and Liton built their innings in a controlled manner, taking the score to a 50-run stand by the 20th over and reaching 100 together by the time the 30-over mark arrived.
Liton was dismissed for 76 off 91 balls, having backed away from leg stump before Jayden Lennox broke the partnership. Shanto then completed his fourth ODI century and his first in two years, bringing it up with a single off Lennox after 114 balls.
Shanto later fell for 105, caught near the boundary by Nathan Smith, as Bangladesh’s innings closed with New Zealand facing a challenging total.
In the chase, New Zealand struggled to gain momentum. Mustafizur and Nahid Rana (2-37) struck early to dent the top order. Kelly made his second consecutive fifty but still couldn’t find enough support.
Mustafizur then accelerated the collapse, taking three wickets in 17 balls to complete his sixth five-wicket haul of his ODI career, leaving New Zealand at 160 for 9. Foxcroft added runs at the end, but the outcome had already been effectively decided.
