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That brings us to the end of Sportskeeda's coverage for the opening T20I between Bangladesh and New Zealand. You can switch tabs and follow the India-South Africa opening Test which is currently underway but for now, this is me (Arya Sekhar Chakraborty) signing off also on behalf of my fellow commentator Pragadeesh.
Bangladesh won by 5 wickets (with 8 deliveries to spare)
Litton Das 42*(36) | Shoriful Islam 3/26(4) James Neesham 48(29) | James Neesham 1/7(1)
The target of 135 was always going to be a below-par one, especially on a surface where the ball was coming onto the bat nicely. Openers Rony Talukdar and Litton Das came out with a positive frame of mind. Rony in particular smashed a four and a six before getting a top edge of Adam Milne. Najmul Hossain Shanto came out all guns blazing and looked in stupendous touch right from the word go.
He spanked four boundaries in absolutely no time but ended up bunting a back-of-a-length delivery straight down the throat of the mid-off fielder. Soumya Sarkar and Litton kept batting sensibly and rotated the strike. Sarkar continued from where the left the other day, scoring a quickfire 22 of 15 deliveries which included a couple of fours and a six. It was debutant Ben Sears who castled him with a good length delivery which just moved back a tad and rattled the stumps.
Towhid Hridoy smashed a massive six off Tim Southee to get going and the equation was getting easier with each passing delivery. However some tight overs towards the end brought New Zealand back into the game. Afif Hossain was dismissed early and Southee almost got Litton when he was adjudged LBW only to be overturned on review. Just when the pressure seemed to be building, it was Litton Das who struck a four and a six to bring the equation down and eventually some powerful hits from Mahedi Hasan ensured that Bangladesh reached the target with eight deliveries to spare.
Bangladesh huffed and puffed their way to the victory target in the end but not before they were consistently challenged by the New Zealand bowlers. It was Litton Das who held his composure and remained unbeaten to take his side over the finish line. Mahedi Hasan also chipped in with some vital runs towards the end as Bangladesh took a 1-0 lead in the three match series. With the win, they have also brought up their maiden T20I win against New Zealand in New Zealand. The home team has been totally outplayed in all three departments of the game.
18.4 Adam Milne to Mahedi Hasan, FOUR! Bangladesh go 1-0 up in the series. Comes down the track and lofts the length delivery over mid-off to finish the formality.
18.3 Adam Milne to Mahedi Hasan, dug it short and it's been pulled to the left of deep square leg for a couple of runs
Bangladesh on the verge of scripting history here. What a superb hit from Mahedi and Bangladesh just a hit away from winning this.
18.2 Adam Milne to Mahedi Hasan, SIX! WHAT A STRIKE! Mahedi isn't afraid of Milne as he steps away in advance to access the shorter side. Milne goes full and this length doesn't help him at all. Mahedi gets underneath it and creams it over deep cover for a maximum
18.1 Adam Milne to Mahedi Hasan, back of a length around off-stump, Mahedi dabs it to backward point
Adam Milne [3-0-27-1] is back into the attack.
That's a game turning over for Bangladesh in the context of the game. Litton starting the over with a four and a six and that almost sealed the deal as far as Bangladesh is concerned. Just 10 more required off the last two overs. Bangladesh have got this under control.
18
overs
125/5score
4
6
1
0
1
2
runs
Litton Das*
42(36)
Mahedi Hasan
7(12)
Ben Sears
1/36
17.6 Ben Sears to Litton Das, pitched up on a fuller length, Litton scoops it behind square and gets a couple
17.5 Ben Sears to Mahedi Hasan, short of a length angling in, Mahedi helps it to the right of Allen at deep backward square leg. He moves well and with a long reach, he pulls the back in play emphatically
Desperation on the boundary from Finn Allen. It was four for all money but Allen had other ideas. Exceptional work
17.4 Ben Sears to Mahedi Hasan, pitched up on middle stump, Mahedi drives it down to mid-off
17.3 Ben Sears to Litton Das, pitched up on a good length and it's been clipped down to deep mid-wicket for one
Ish Sodhi had it covered but ends up stepping into the boundary cushions. Sodhi cannot believe that, Litton gets away and a maximum for Bangladesh at crucial juncture of the game.
17.2 Ben Sears to Litton Das, SIX! Sodhi touches the ropes when he makes contact with the ball. He's made a mistake and he can't believe it. Pitched up angling in, Das shuffles across and scoops it to fine leg. Sodhi moves to his right and takes it but he loses balance in his right footing and ends up touching the ropes
Bangladesh desperately needed Litton to break the shackles and he has smashed that down the ground, wide of the mid off fielder and races away to the fence.
17.1 Ben Sears to Litton Das, FOUR! Pitched up on a fuller length, Litton clears the front leg and knocks it uppishly past mid-off for a boundary
Video
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S Sarkar
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Litton Das
*
Ben Sears
McLean Park, Napier
