Tigers crush Kiwis

Bangladesh crushed the visiting New Zealand side in their first twenty20 international of the five-match series as the Tigers bowled them out for 60 and went on to win the match by seven wickets.

It was Bangladesh’s first-ever win over New Zealand in T20Is after losing ten matches in a row. Skipper Mahmudullah Riyad also claimed a record as he is now Bangladesh’s most successful T20I captain with 11 wins, surpassing Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, who had ten wins.

Shakib was the man of the match for his two wickets and 25 runs.

Choosing to bat first, New Zealand could only muster 60 as none of their batsmen could put up a fight against the Bangladeshi bowlers.

In reply, despite losing both the openers very early in the innings, veterans Shakib, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah took them home comfortably.

Mahedi Hasan started New Zealand’s collapse as he dismissed debutant Rachin Ravindra in the very first over. Nasum Ahmed and Shakib soon joined in, and New Zealand lost four wickets for only nine runs.

Skipper Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls put up a 34-run stand, but Mohammad Saifuddin sent Latham back, and there was another collapse as they lost six wickets for 17 runs to get bowled out for 60.

Mustafizur Rahman picked up three wickets, with Shakib, Nasum and Saifuddin picking up two each.

In reply, Bangladesh lost both their openers Naim Sheikh and Liton Das within the third over. But a 30-run stand between Shakib and Mushfiq eased the nerves, and another 25-run partnership between Mushfiq and Mahmudullah took Bangladesh home with five overs and seven wickets in hand.