In a remarkable turn of events, Bangladesh achieved a historic victory over New Zealand in the third one-day international on Saturday, securing a nine-wicket win in just 15 overs. The win halted New Zealand’s impressive 17-match winning streak in ODIs at home. After restricting New Zealand to a paltry 98 runs in 31.4 overs, Bangladesh’s captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, played a crucial role in the chase, crafting an unbeaten 51 from 42 balls. Amanul Haque also contributed significantly with 37 runs from 33 balls, guiding Bangladesh to its first ODI win over the Kiwis in New Zealand in 19 attempts.
Despite New Zealand clinching the three-match series 2-1 with victories in the first two matches, Bangladesh managed to exact revenge in the third ODI. The Bangladeshi bowlers, led by Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Shoriful Islam, dismantled the New Zealand batting lineup, bowling them out for their lowest-ever total in ODIs against Bangladesh. Sakib claimed a career-best 3-14, while Shoriful Islam also recorded a career-best performance with figures of 3-22. Soumya Sarkar contributed to the bowling onslaught, taking 3-18. The Kiwis fell below their previous lowest ODI score against Bangladesh of 162.
Speaking about his performance, Sakib noted the favorable conditions, stating, “The ball was nipping, the ball was swinging, and I knew how we started would set the tone for my team.” He emphasized his strategy of bowling wicket to wicket and maintaining a consistent line and length. Sakib credited the pitch, acknowledging its suitability for pace bowlers.
Captain Shanto, winning the toss and opting to field, expressed delight at the decision. Despite McLean Park’s reputation for being one of the best batting pitches in New Zealand, the surface displayed unusual grass coverage. Shoriful and Sakib capitalized on the conditions, wreaking havoc on the New Zealand top order, reducing them to 6-70. Both bowlers effectively tied down the batters by bowling into the stumps and exploiting swing in both directions. The well-directed lengths and occasional unpredictable bounce made it challenging for the Kiwi batsmen to play aggressively off the front foot.
New Zealand’s innings witnessed only one substantial partnership, a 36-run stand between Will Young (26) and Tom Latham (21) for the third wicket. Shoriful replicated his impressive form from the first ODI, dismissing Young, Latham, and Mark Chapman (2). The dismissals of Latham and Chapman were particularly noteworthy, as both were bowled by deliveries that jagged back late between bat and pad.
Sakib maintained a disciplined line, giving the batsmen no room to maneuver, and even registered two maidens in his seven overs. His early wicket of Rachin Ravindra (8) triggered the New Zealand collapse, with subsequent dismissals of Henry Nicholls (1) and Tom Blundell (4). Soumya Sarkar joined the onslaught, taking the wickets of Josh Clarkson (16), Adam Milne (4), and Adithya Ashok (10). The final wicket fell to Mushfiqur Rahim, who finished with figures of 1-36.
While New Zealand had already secured the series, Bangladesh’s emphatic victory in the third ODI served as a statement, setting the stage for the upcoming Twenty20 series. The win not only broke New Zealand’s home winning streak but also showcased Bangladesh’s ability to dominate in adverse conditions, especially through their potent bowling attack.
