Sports

New Zealand beat Bangladesh by 77 runs

A career high 137 by opener Tom Latham set New Zealand up for a comprehensive 77-run win over Bangladesh in their first one-day international at Hagley Oval on Monday.New Zealand made 341-7 in their 50 overs and the Bangladesh innings closed in 44.5 overs at 264-9, with Mushfiqur Rahim forced to retire with a hamstring injury on 42.New Zealand`s total on Boxing Day was their highest against Bangladesh, beating the 338 for 4 they made 26 years ago. Much of the work towards that came from Latham. His second ODI hundred came with a mighty pull off Taskin Ahmed in the 40th over. The same shot through midwicket got him to his highest score. He timed the ball well throughout his innings, starting with a punch through covers in the third over. His first six was a pick-up over square-leg off Soumya Sarkar, before he dropped anchor.His lasting till the 48th over of the innings was necessary for New Zealand considering the way they started. Hagley Oval had provided a pitch with true pace and bounce, and all a batting side needed were partnerships. Kane Williamson won the toss and chose to put runs on the board, but he wouldn`t have been pleased that every time two of his men seemed to have the measure of Bangladesh, they would falter.