NZ XI beat Tigers by 3 wickets

Wicketkeeper Ben Horne blasted an unbeaten 60 runs off 53 balls to help the New Zealand XI beat Bangladesh by three wickets in a rain-reduced one day cricket match in Whangarei.

The weather delay meant the Cobham Oval warm-up - the first match of Bangladesh`s tour - was restricted to 43 overs with Bangladesh reaching 243 for eight wickets on Thursday.

The New Zealand XI lost opener Ryan Duffy for four in the second over, falling victim to Bangladesh`s young pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman, who was playing his first game after five months out following shoulder surgery.

But Horne, 22, the son of former Black Cap Phil Horne, played an impressive innings, striking four boundaries, as he shared in useful partnerships with lower order men Shawn Hicks (15), Henry Shipley (24) and Brett Hampton (29no).

The New Zealand XI brought up their 200 off 219 balls and reached their target off 4.14 overs, finishing on 247-7.

Shakib Al Hasan, with 3-41, led the Bangladeshi bowling attack.

Hicks took two wickets for 30. in Bangladesh`s innings and fellow right arm seamer Hampton two for 44.

Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim top scored for Bangladesh with 45 and Mahmudallah retired on 43.

Left-handers Soumya Sarkar (40) and Imrul Kayes (36) also made useful contributions.

Bangladesh play the Black Caps in Christchurch on Boxing Day in the first of three one day internationals.

AT A GLANCE

Bangladesh 245-8 off 43 overs (M Rahim 45, Mahmudallah 43 ret, S Sarkar 40) lost to New Zealand XI 247-7 (B Horne 60 no, B Smith (50), B Popli (45); S Al Hasan 3-41) by three wickets at Cobham Oval, Whangarei.

Source: Stuff.co.nz