Bangladesh win Twenty20 match to register first victory in New Zealand

Bangladesh win Twenty20 match to register first victory in New Zealand

23 December 2007

Bangladesh won its first match in New Zealand soil when they beat a New Zealand XI by four wickets in a charity Twenty20 game at Seddon Park in Hamilton today.

Young all-rounder Farhad Reza scored a match wining blitzkrieg 31 from 17 balls and shared a 48-run fifth wicket partnership with Mehrab Hossain to guide Bangladesh to 134-6 in reply to New Zealand XI's 133-7 and victory with t3 overs to spare. Mehrab remained unbeaten on 21 from 26 deliveries.

The win would boost confidence ahead of Bangladesh's three-match National Bank limited overs series against New Zealand from Boxing Day.

Previously on this tour, Bangladesh had lost to a Northern Districts and Auckland team in limited overs matches. The only match in which Bangladesh averted defeat was washed out due to inclement weather.

A 17 ball 31 from Farhad Reza helped Bangladesh to secure victory against New Zealand XI © AFP

New Zealand fielded a strong XI for the charity match that contained the nucleus of the New Zealand team they will play in the upcoming limited overs series. None of the current New Zealand players except Scott Styris who made 29 from 22 balls, made a significant contribution with the bat.

Two early strikes from Bangladesh opening bowlers Shahadat Hossain and Sajidul Islam pushed New Zealand XI on the back foot after Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful won the toss and opted to field first.

For New Zealand, opener Jamie How was out for 10, Peter Fulton for 3, Ross Taylor for 15 and Gareth Taylor for 12, leaving the New Zealanders with more concerns than the tourists as the first one-day match approaches in two days time. In form, Northern Districts captain, James Marshall who dominated Bangladesh in the warm up match remained unbeaten on 33.

A disciplined bowling effort supported by some electrifying fielding set up Bangladesh's victory in front of a packed crowd. Lanky paceman Shahadat Hossain took 3-15 from four overs and captain Mohammad Ashraful took 2-28 with his leg spin.

Bangladesh lost their first wicket with no run on the board as the batsmen initially showed vulnerability against the Kiwi seam bowlers but a counter attack by Aftab Ahmed and Mohammad Ashraful set the platform for a well-planned run chase. Ashraful scored 20 from 10 balls — hitting a four and six from the first two balls he faced — and Aftad Ahmed contributed 20 from 15 balls.

After their departure Saqibul Hasan (22 from 19) maintained the run flow and the 47 run 6th wicket partnership between Farhad Reza and Mehrab Hossain sealed the victory for Bangladesh.

Bangladesh will play the first of three one-day internationals against New Zealand in Auckland on December 26.

The one-day series is followed by two tests, the first starting in Dunedin on Jan. 4. The second begins Jan. 12 in Wellington.