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.