New Zealand bounced back strongly from their defeat against Pakistan to hammer Bangladesh in the first-round game of the ongoing T20I tri-series, defeating them by eight wickets on a dryish surface at the Hagley Oval ground in Christchurch.
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, the hosts restricted the hapless Bangladeshis to 137/8 in their allotted 20 overs as the visitors’ struggles with the bat continued after losing by 21 runs in the game against Pakistan at the start of the tournament.
Familiar problems resurfaced for Bangladesh, whose hitting game against hard-length bowling proved insignificant again. 33 from opening batter Najmul Hassan Shanto was their highest individual score for the evening, where Afif Hossain (24) and stand-in skipper Nurul Hasan (25*) were the only others to cross the 20-run mark.
Setting the game up for New Zealand with the ball were their T20 World Cup incumbents. Trent Boult (2/25) and Michael Bracewell (2/14) ended with superlative figures and even though Tim Southee (2/34) and Ish Sodhi (2/31) were a little expensive, they would’ve been pleased to have contributed two wickets apiece as well.
The Black Caps’ innings began with a blip since their opener Finn Allen failed to kick-off the proceedings in good enough gear, making 16 off 18 balls despite starting off inside the powerplay. That would’ve reignited a bit of hope for the Bangladeshis. But those were dashed quickly by Devon Conway at the other end, with the left-hander blasting 70 not out off 51 balls.
Given the unintimidating nature of the run-chase, Kane Williamson looked to spend time in the middle for his 30 off 29 balls, keeping an eye on the T20 World Cup. This, before Glenn Phillips entered the scene and smashed the opposition bowling for a cameo of 23 not out off just 9 deliveries to close out the proceedings alongside Conway.
Hasan Mahmud (1/26) was the only bowler from the visiting side who looked in some control of the game.
Brief scores
Bangladesh 137/8 in 20 overs (Shanto 33; Bracewell 2/14, Boult 2/25) lost to New Zealand 142/2 in 17.5 overs (Conway 70*, Williamson 30; Mahmud 1/26) by 8 wickets
