Bangladesh got their tour of New Zealand off to the worst possible start with a massive batting collapse that allowed their hosts to cruise to victory.
Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
New Zealand might hope for stiffer competition from the Tigers in the coming matches, but will certainly welcome the Super League points.
New Zealand vs Bangladesh | Tuesday 23 March | Hagley Oval, Christchurch | 03:00
To Win Match
New Zealand 1/9
Tie 25/1
Bangladesh 57/10
New Zealand
The Black Caps batsmen barely had to break a sweat to chase down the 131 runs Bangladesh put on the board in the first ODI which means their rejigged batting didn’t get any sort of test.
New Zealand were clinical with the ball led by Trent Boult whose pace and movement gave Bangladesh a world of trouble.
If their opponents aren’t going to come to the party, New Zealand will need to push themselves to be on the money as much as they can be, as a drop in intensity could set them back in their progress towards long term goals.
Heavy rotation of the squad is a likelihood but New Zealand might wait to clinch the series before making wholesale changes.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh have fallen into a familiar pattern when touring seam-friendly countries, where even in white-ball cricket they allow the quick bowlers to bully them into submission.
The senior players will need to step up to avoid an absolute rout in the remainder of the series – particularly Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah who got starts but couldn’t kick on in the opening match.
You can’t judge the Bangladesh bowlers on their inability to defend a score which wouldn’t have been a challenge in a T20 match let alone an ODI. Hasan Mahmud was wayward upfront though, while Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed looked closer to being on the money.
Bangladesh will need to dig deep to come back from the kind of defeat they suffered first up, or it will be a long old tour.
Verdict: New Zealand 1/9
The Black Caps all day.
Written by James Richardson.
