Tigers destroy Kiwis

HAT-TRICK! Skipper-wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim takes an outstanding catch of Kiwi batsman JDS Neesham off Rubel Hossain’s delivery on the first ODI between Bangladesh and New Zealand on Tuesday. Photo: Tv grab

Bangladesh has defeated New Zealand by 44 runs in the first one-day-international of the three-ODI series at Sher-e Bangla Stadium in Mirpur today.

Bangladeshi fast bowler Rubel Hossain’s six-wicket haul including a superb hat-trick destroyed the Kiwi batting line-up as the Blackcaps struggled to score 206 runs after D/L method was applied after rain interrupted the match.

NZ managed to score 162 runs off 29.5 overs with a loss of 9 wickets.

Kiwi all-rounder KS Williamson did not bat due to injuries.

Rubel earned the Man-of-the-match award.

His hat-trick victimised the Kiwi middle-order including: Corey Anderson, Brendon Mccullum and JDS Neesham.

Earlier in the evening, rain interrupted the Kiwis innings while they were chasing the Tigers’ 265 runs.

Sohag Gazi, Mahmudullah and Abdur Razzak picked up one wicket each.

Bangladesh set a target of 266 runs for New Zealand.

The hosts were all out by 49.5 overs as Anderson dismissed Abdur Razzak on the second last ball of the innings.

Mushfiqur was out ten runs short of a ton after the hosts made a huge comeback from the loss of three wickets to New Zealand.

Neesham got two wickets as he dismissed Mushfiqur and Nasir Hossain in the same over as they scored 90 and 1 respectively.

Mushfiqur Rahim and Naeem Islam constructed a partnership of 154 before Mushfiqur was out to Neesham.
Bangladesh lost three top order batsmen, including both the openers early in their innings as they face New Zealand.

Earlier, the Kiwis opted to field first after winning the toss.

Country best opener Tamim was trapped leg before wicket for 5 after misjudging an in-swinger from Kiwi pacer Tim Southee.

In-form Mominul was unlucky to be dismissed without facing a single ball as he was run out while responding to opener Anamul’s half-hearted call for a tight single.

Anamul himself was caught at second slip as he misread the length of a Southee delivery.
He made 13 from 22 balls.

Bangladesh is looking to reflect their improvement from Tests in ODIs as well, whereas the Kiwis are keen to put behind their record of being whitewashed 4-0 by the hosts in 2010.

The Tigers made a couple of changes to the squad, as Mashrafe Mortaza is making his comeback to international cricket, while Shakib Al Hasan missed out due to a fever.

Naeem Islam replaced all-rounder Shakib.

For New Zealand, Anton Devcich made his ODI debut as a replacement for the injured opener Martin Guptil.

The next ODI will be played on October 31 at the same venue.

BTV and Satellite channel Gazi TV will broadcast the match live.

SQUADS

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), Naeem Islam, Nasir Hossain, Mahmudullah, Sohag Gazi, Abdur Razzak, Mashrafe Mortaza and Rubel Hossain.

New Zealand: HD Rutherford, AP Devcich, LRPL Taylor, BB McCullum, KS Williamson, NL McCullum, JDS Neesham, GD Elliott, TG Southee, Corey J Anderson and MJ McClenaghan.