Bangladesh vs New Zealand First ODI 2008: Bangladesh Posted an Excellent Victory
Bangladesh team got off to a good start in the three-match ODI series with an emphatic 7-wicket victory over New Zealand. Showing excellent performance in all three departments-batting, bowling and fielding- the hosts clinched a confidence booster victory. Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful won the toss and elected to field first. In the morning, the condition was pacer friendly after last night’s rainfall. So, winning the toss was crucial for Bangladesh in the match and Bangladesh captain also admitted it in the post-match conference.
Batting first, New Zealand started off well as New Zealand openers put 47 runs on the board within 8 overs. However, New Zealand started stumbling after the dismissal of opener Brendon McCullum on 14, becoming the first of Bangladesh vice captain Mashrafe Mortaza who thrashed New Zealand top order taking four wickets for 44 in his 10 overs. In his next over, Mashrafe also picked up the wicket of opener Jesse Ryder who scored 34 runs off 35 balls. After this, there was a collapse in New Zealand middle order that saw New Zealand losing six wickets on 79 after 21 overs. In the seventh wicket partnership, captain Daniel Vettori and all rounder Jacob Oram added 70 runs. Oram scored 57, while Vettori played an important innings of 30 runs. Later in the tale end, Kyle Mills and Tim Southee chipped in 16 and 19 runs respectively that helped New Zealand to make a decent total of 201 runs.
Mashrafe was the most successful bowler for Bangladesh with four wickets. Left arm spinner also bowled very well taking three wickets for 33 runs in his 10 overs. Shakib Al Hasan and Shahadat Hossain took a wicket each. Debutant all rounder Naeem Islam also bowled very well. Though he could not take any wicket, he was economical in his 10 overs conceding only 34 runs.
Chasing a total of 201, Bangladesh batsmen played with a good game plan. Bangladesh never looked fragile during their innings. Though opener Tamim Iqbal failed to shine as he got out on 12, leaving Bangladesh 18 for 1, it was opener Junaid Siddique and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim who made 67-run second wicket partnership. Mushfiqur Rahim got out on 30 and then captain Ashraful joined Junaid Siddique. Ashraful and Junaid Siddique added 109 runs for the third wicket partnership and that ensured an excellent victory for Bangladesh. Junaid Siddique played a winning knock before getting out on 85 off 137 balls. Captain Mohammad Ashraful remained not out on 60 off 56 balls.
Kyle Mills, Mark Gillespie and Scott Styris picked up one wicket each. Junaid Siddique was elected man of the match for his excellent innings of 85 runs. The second ODI of the series will take place on 11 October 2008.
