Kamal Ghorui
New Zealand produced a disciplined all-round performance to secure a comfortable 26-run victory over Bangladesh in the opening ODI of the three-match series on Friday, taking a 1-0 lead.Battling scorching conditions, New Zealand’s pace attack proved decisive, bundling out Bangladesh for 221 in 48.3 overs after setting a target of 248 on a slow surface. The trio of Blair Tickner, Nathan Smith and Will O’Rourke shared eight wickets, dismantling the chase with sustained pressure.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Earlier, opting to bat, New Zealand posted 247/8, built around a composed 68 from Henry Nicholls and a brisk 59 by Dean Foxcroft. After losing an early wicket, Nicholls steadied the innings with a 73-run stand alongside Will Young, who contributed 30. Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam impressed on his return, finishing with 2/27 in a tight spell.Bangladesh’s chase began poorly as they slipped to 21/2, but a fighting 93-run partnership between Saif Hasan (57) and Liton Das (46) revived hopes. However, O’Rourke’s breakthrough removed Saif, triggering a collapse at a crucial stage.A brief resistance followed as Towhid Hridoy and Afif Hossain stitched a 52-run stand, but left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox broke the partnership, leaving Bangladesh with too much to do in the final overs.Tickner, who had an inconsistent start, returned to deliver a match-winning spell, claiming four wickets in his final burst to clean up the tail. Smith also made a crucial impact early, striking twice in consecutive deliveries and finishing with three wickets.In the end, New Zealand’s superior execution with both bat and ball ensured a commanding start to the series, leaving Bangladesh with plenty to address ahead of the must-win second ODI.
