Napier, Dec 27: Litton Das carried his bat for 42 to steer Bangladesh to a five-wicket win in the opening Twenty20 International on Wednesday as it rolled New Zealand out cheaply at McLean Park for the second time in four days.
On Saturday, Bangladesh bowled out New Zealand for 98 on the same pitch to set up a nine-wicket win in the third one-day international, its first limited-overs victory over the Black Caps on their home soil.
Four days later, Bangladesh claimed three wickets with the first nine balls of the New Zealand innings and contained the home side to 134 for nine. The Black Caps were one for three after Shoriful Islam dismissed Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips with consecutive balls in the second over, and then 20 for four following the fall of Daryl Mitchell.
Jimmy Neesham made 48 and captain Mitchell Santner 23 as New Zealand staged a partial recovery.
Das led an unhurried run chase that saw Bangladesh reach its target with eight balls to spare. The opener was given out lbw to Tim Southee when he was 22 but had the decision reversed under review and stayed on to steady the innings later.
He needed medical treatment for a leg injury at the start of the 18th over when he was 29 and Bangladesh needed 24 from 18 balls. On 33, and with 20 needed from 16 balls, his lofted shot found Ish Sodhi at fine-leg but the fielder stepped over the boundary line in completing a simple catch, giving Das another reprieve.
Clearly impeded while running between the wickets, Das was able to look on from the non-striker’s end as Mahedi Hasan (19 not out) finished the chase with a six and a four off Adam Milne in the 19th over.
Earlier, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto entrusted the first over to off-spinner Mahedi and the decision paid off when he bowled Tim Seifert with the fourth ball.
“In these conditions, spin bowling is hard, but I was able to get my execution right,” said Mahedi who was Player of the Match for his all-round performance. (AP)
