Bangladesh 199 for 4 (Tanzid 76, Shanto 50, Lennox 2-36) beat New Zealand 198 (Kelly 83, Rana 5-32 Shoriful 2-32) by six wickets
It was a much-needed contribution from the Bangladesh batters, who had come under criticicism after the 26-run loss in the first ODI. This time, the bowlers blew a hole through New Zealand’s top and middle order, with Rana taking 5 for 32, his second five-for in ODIs, before the batters got Bangladesh home in 35.3 overs.
Bangladesh’s chase, however, began with uncertainty once again. Nathan Smith burst through Saif Hassan with an excellent inswinger in the first over. Soumya Sarkar, drafted into the playing XI to replace Afif Hossain, fell early too. He struck Will O’Rourke for a six but New Zealand captain Tom Latham stationed three slips and urged O’Rourke to keep bowling bouncers.
Soumya fell into the trap, and his attempted glide with a vertical bat only reached Dean Foxcroft at third slip. Tanzid retaliated almost immediately, hitting Smith for two sixes in the fifth over. The first was over long-on, the next over midwicket with a lovely flick.
Tanzid reached his fifty with his third six, slog sweeping Foxcroft over midwicket in the 15th over. He took just 33 balls to reach his sixth half-century in ODIs.
Tanzid was racing towards a big score, hammering Lennox for his fourth six in the 23rd over. But the left-arm spinner had the last laugh the very next ball as Tanzid top-edged a hoick across the line for Henry Nicholls to take a steepling catch tracking back at cover. It ended a 120-run third wicket stand.
Litton Das, playing his 100th ODI, couldn’t add much to the total, when Lennox had him caught off a slog in his next over. Shanto hobbled off the field after completing his fifty due to cramps.
Towhid Hridoy and Mehidy Hasan Miraz added an unbroken 32 to complete the chase. Hridoy made an unbeaten 30 off 31 balls with five fours, while Mehidy struck the winning run in the 36th over.
Rana had earlier dominated the New Zealand batting line-up, making an impact whenever captain Mehidy handed him the ball. He took the first two wickets: Nicholls, New Zealand’s top scorer from the first game, trapped lbw, and Will Young via a 146kph bouncer. Rana got the ball to rear into the No 3 batter, who could only guide it to gully where Soumya took an easy catch.
Kelly then laid into Taskin Ahmed, driving him down the ground and clipping him over midwicket among his three fours in the 25th over. Kelly soon reached his fifty in the 27th over, before Rana, brought back into the attack, removed Abbas. Wicketkeeper Litton ran quite a distance towards fine leg, where he dived to complete a brilliant catch. Litton had earlier taken a fine tumbling catch to remove Latham off Soumya’s bowling
Kelly grew more aggressive. He moved around the crease, even getting hit on his visor when he tried to hook Shoriful Islam in the 35th over. He fell to the same bowler in his next over, caught at midwicket for 83.
The fielders contributed to Bangladesh’s good showing. Towhid Hridoy took three catches including a superb effort at long-on to end the New Zealand innings.
Rana added two more to his kitty in the death overs, removing Foxcroft for 15 before yorking Lennox for a duck. Rana’s five wickets apart, Shoriful Islam took two while Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed and Soumya took one each.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
