New Zealand seal series with comeback victory
New Zealand kept their composure to buck history and defend 251 against Bangladesh in the second one-day international at Nelson, the lowest first innings total in seven completed one-day internationals at the ground.
The 67-run win established an unassailable 2-0 series lead with a match to play. The visitors were dismissed for 184 in 42.4 overs, but reached 105 for one in the 23rd over. They looked poised to post a first away victory against the Black Caps in nine attempts.
However, three wickets for 22 in a five-over Kane Williamson spell took the pace off the ball and the belief from Bangladeshi hearts and minds. The tourists forced their shots and literally played into New Zealand hands. His off-spinners created two catches and a stumping. Fellow spinner Mitchell Santner also applied a tourniquet with one for 20 from eight overs.
In addition, Williamson featured in the run out of Sabbir Rahman, a comical episode which had Sabbir and batting partner Imrul Kayes racing for the same crease.
The hare, coming from the striker`s end, beat the tortoise, but their 75-run partnership from 90 balls gave them the opportunity to win. Imrul top scored with 59 and Sabbir contributed 38.
Earlier, an intense and committed Bangladesh restricted the hosts to 251 after winning the toss.
New Zealand benefitted from a mid-innings flourish, anchored by man-of-the-match Neil Broom`s maiden ODI century of 109 off 107 balls, but regular wickets meant full throttle could not be reached. They were vulnerable if Bangladesh had applied themselves better with the bat.
Broom and Jimmy Neesham (28 off 31) added 51 for the fourth wicket off 58 balls, followed by 64 off 72 balls with Luke Ronchi (35 off 38) for the sixth wicket. It was Ronchi`s highest score in 10 ODI innings.
Elsewhere, continuity was fleeting. Trent Boult`s cameo of 12 off as many balls provided a useful 10th wicket injection. At that point, they were the second side in 13 completed innings to be bowled out at the venue, but had at least used up their overs.
Saxton Oval is the only ground where Bangladesh have won an international in New Zealand, defeating Scotland by six wickets at last year`s World Cup. On that occasion they hauled in 319, the highest chase at the venue. This time the task looked less daunting, but they could not capitalise.
Captain Mashrafe Mortaza galloped to the crease like it was the finishing post in the Melbourne Cup and, after getting denied an lbw review against Martin Guptill third ball, trapped him next delivery. He led the bowling figures with three for 49 from his allotment.
That set the tone in combination with tenacious fielding. Debutant wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan set an example with his clinical stumping of Jimmy Neesham and sharp catch of Tim Southee standing up to the stumps. His contribution was reinforced by the fieldsmen. Strokes into the outfield were chased as if a bank note was blowing away down the street. No more than seven runs were taken from any of the first 30 overs.
A 23-ball spell between the eighth and 11th overs stung New Zealand. Two runs were scored - one was a wide - and Williamson exited.
The captain personified the difficulties faced by most of the New Zealand batsmen. He struggled to get comfortable. Bangladesh used the clever tactic of bowling on middle-and-leg, looking for him to glance into the hands of leg slip. Two boundaries were the result, but the balls went in the air.
He escaped a caught-and-bowled chance on 13 in the eighth over as debutant Subashis Roy threw a hand to his right in the follow-through. Taskin, who had Williamson caught behind at Christchurch, forced a shot after four dot balls in the 11th over with the No.3 on 14. The ball lobbed to Shakib Al Hasan at mid-on.
Williamson wasn`t dejected for long. By the end of the 33rd over he had exacted his utu.
Source: NZ Herald
