New Zealand’s pace attack made the difference on a sluggish, low track at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, with eight of Bangladesh’s ten wickets falling to the visitors. The result was a tense 26-run win in the opening ODI on Friday, April 17, as New Zealand defended 247/8 despite a late surge from the home side.
Pitch and New Zealand’s measured start
Opting to bat first on a surface that demanded patience, New Zealand began slowly. Nick Kelly endured a tough opening, remaining at the crease for 23 balls to score just 7 before Shoriful Islam struck to remove him. Shoriful’s inclusion was also notable—he came into the XI as a late replacement after Mustafizur Rahman picked up an injury.
Bangladesh’s early pressure kept New Zealand in check, with the visitors managing only 29 runs in the first nine overs. The innings then gained momentum when Will Young joined Henry Nicholls. The two steadied the chase with a 73-run partnership, but Rishad Hossain ended it by getting Young out for 30.
New Zealand build past 200 and then limit boundaries
After that breakthrough, Bangladesh continued to chip away at regular intervals. Even as Nicholls reached a fifty, the captain Tom Latham struggled to make a substantial impact, and the innings continued to lose momentum at the crease. Nicholls eventually departed for 68, with Rishad claiming his second wicket.
Muhammad Abbas and Josh Clarkson also failed to stick around for long periods, handing Dean Foxcroft more responsibility as the innings progressed. Foxcroft, who had previously recorded a golden duck on ODI debut at this same venue in 2023, showed a different side in only his second ODI by accelerating with a quick half-century. His knock pushed New Zealand well beyond the 200-mark.
Once Foxcroft was dismissed in the 47th over, New Zealand went boundary-less for the remainder of the innings but still completed their 50 overs, finishing on 247/8. Nathan Smith added an unbeaten 21 to help close out the innings.
Bangladesh’s chase: early hope, mid-innings strikes, and a late collapse
In reply, Saif Hassan was given a lifeline when Nicholls dropped a chance at slip in the second over. However, that reprieve did not last. Nathan Smith struck off consecutive deliveries, removing Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Najmul Hossain Shanto in quick succession and pushing Bangladesh into difficulty.
Saif continued to play with purpose, including a six on a free hit over long-on, and Bangladesh found support with Litton Das as they built a 93-run stand to gather momentum toward the target.
But both of the set batters fell within a five-over window. Saif was dismissed for 57, bowled by William O’Rourke, and Foxcroft then struck again to remove Litton’s partner Dean Foxcroft, who had already contributed with the bat, breaking the partnership as Das was out for 46.
- Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Najmul Hossain Shanto were both removed by Nathan Smith off back-to-back balls
- Saif Hassan continued aggressively, including a six on a free hit over long-on
- Bangladesh’s progress was built on a 93-run partnership before both set batters were dismissed within five overs
With the chase still alive, a 52-run fifth-wicket partnership between Towhid Hridoy (55 off 60) and Afif Hossain (27 off 49) dragged Bangladesh back into contention as the spinners began to tighten the screws. Yet the finish turned chaotic in the death overs. Bangladesh slipped from 184/4 to 214/9, and the late setbacks proved decisive.
Left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox removed Afif, while seamer Blair Tickner (4/40) tore into the lower order to trigger the collapse. With 33 runs required from the last two overs, Hridoy managed his half-century with a six, but Nicholls then completed a remarkable catch at deep mid-wicket to seal New Zealand’s win.
New Zealand’s bowling control and series advantage
New Zealand’s discipline was highlighted by the fact they delivered 20 wides, but it ultimately did not matter as they held their nerve. Shoriful Islam finished as Bangladesh’s top wicket-taker for the visitors’ opponents, while the key New Zealand bowling figures came from Shoriful’s counterpart in the earlier innings and Smith’s spell in the chase. Overall, New Zealand’s pace attack ensured the match stayed firmly in their control after the middle overs.
- New Zealand won by 26 runs
- Shoriful Islam’s bowling: 2/27 from 10 overs, including two maidens
- Bangladesh were restricted to 221 in 48.3 overs
- New Zealand took a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series
Brief Scores
- New Zealand: 247/8 in 50 overs (Henry Nicholls 68, Dean Foxcroft 59; Shoriful Islam 2-27, Rishad Hossain 2-44)
- Bangladesh: 221 in 48.3 overs (Saif Hassan 57, Towhid Hridoy 55; Blair Tickner 4-40, Nathan Smith 3-45)
