cricket
New Zealand leads 1-0 in the three-match ODI series
Published on: Wednesday, December 20, 2023 at 09:30:26 PST
Nelson (New Zealand) (AFP) – Opener Soumya Sarkar hit 169 off 151 balls Wednesday as her brilliant innings helped Bangladesh recover from an early wicket loss to reach 291 runs in the second one-day international against New Zealand.
New Zealand leads 1-0 in the three-match ODI series after a 44-run win in the opener last Sunday in Dunedin.
Bangladesh will be hoping to level the series by ending their miserable streak, having lost all 17 of their previous 50-over matches on New Zealand soil. After bowling a duck in Dunedin, Sarkar bounced back in Nelson to break boundaries with 22 fours and two sixes.
This was the second highest ODI tally by a Bangladeshi batsman, just short of the 176 Liton Das scored against Zimbabwe in March 2020.
Sarkar held his nerve as the Black Caps bowlers batted hard, taking three wickets early. Seamer Jacob Duffy got two for just 15 runs when Bangladesh captain Najm Hossain Shanto and Liton Das were caught out.
With Bangladesh wobbling at 44-3, Sarkar steadied the ship along with Tawheed Hridoy’s over to guide the visitors to 80-4 for the fourth wicket. Sarkar was bowled out during a profitable partnership with veteran batsman Mushfiqur Rahim to finish fifth in the 91-run stand.
They pushed Bangladesh to 171-5 after 34 overs before Rahim slotted his shot into the gloves of New Zealand wicket-keeper Tom Blundell. Before scoring his third century in ODI cricket, Sarkar lived dangerously when Will Young miscued his shot while skating.
Sarkar belted four successive overs in the 43rd over when New Zealand debutant Adithya Ashok took his first ODI wicket when Mehidy Hasan Miraz was caught out. The stunning knock inspired Sarkar’s teammates, including debutant Rishad Hossain, who hit a six in his first over in ODI cricket.
Sarkar finally departed in the 49th over when seamer William O’Rourke caught him behind, the first of three wickets taken by the New Zealander in the last six balls.
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