Towhid Hridoy struck an eye-catching unbeaten fifty to steer Bangladesh to a comfortable six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the opening T20I on Monday. Bangladesh were set a challenging chase of 183, and the situation looked tense early on when they slipped to 77 for three by the 11th over, with New Zealand’s bowlers keeping the pressure on. Then Hridoy took control with composed yet ruthless hitting, remaining unbeaten on 51 off just 27 balls. His knock featured two boundaries to the fence and three sixes, and it proved decisive as Bangladesh reached the target with plenty in hand, finishing on 183 for four with two overs to spare and giving themselves a perfect start to the series.
The turnaround was built through key partnerships. Hridoy first combined effectively with Parvez Hossain, putting on 57 runs together. Hossain contributed a quick 28 off 14 deliveries, giving Bangladesh the momentum they needed after the early wickets. After that, Hridoy and Shamim Hossain continued to build, adding an unbeaten 49-run stand to keep the chase on track. Shamim then provided the finishing burst, smashing 31 not out from only 13 balls as Bangladesh accelerated through the final overs. The result left New Zealand’s effort short and Bangladesh in a commanding position right from the first match.
New Zealand, for their part, had compiled a competitive total of 182 for six after choosing to bat. The innings was anchored by two half-centurions—Dane Cleaver and Katene Clarke—who both made 51. Their stand of 88 runs for the second wicket looked to put the visitors in a strong position, especially after Tim Robinson was dismissed run out for a duck early in the innings. With both set batters at the crease and the pitch offering decent batting conditions, New Zealand seemed on course for an even bigger score.
Bangladesh’s comeback, however, came at the right moment. Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain struck twice in quick succession, removing both established batters and disrupting New Zealand’s flow. From there, Bangladesh’s bowling tightened further. Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib and debutant Ripon Mondol—after a slightly untidy opening stretch—found their length and line more consistently, making it difficult for the batters to free their arms. Tanzim’s breakthrough, the wicket of Bevin Jacobs, delivered another major setback as Bangladesh continued to claw their way back into the contest.
Nick Kelly, standing in as skipper, attempted to steady the innings, but there was also a brief stoppage due to bad light. Late in the innings, Josh Clarkson added impetus with an unbeaten 27 off 14 balls, helping New Zealand cross the 180 mark. Even with a strong finish, the final total of 182 for six proved insufficient once Hridoy and his partners took charge during the chase.
Ish Sodhi’s figures of 2 for 40 highlighted that New Zealand did have moments of control, yet they were unable to stop Bangladesh’s middle-order surge. The series now moves to Chattogram on Wednesday, with Bangladesh leading 1-0.
