The sight of Tamim Iqbal jumping down the track and dispatching Jeetan Patel for a six straight down the ground off the first ball of the chase signalled Bangladesh’s intent.
No.3 bat Sabbir Rahman also had a similar game-plan, capitalising on the loose ones and ensuring strike-rotation, aiding Tamim in building a strong partnership that would help setup Bangladesh’s maiden ODI win over New Zealand in an away game.
But the most important knocks of the day came off Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah’s bats as the experienced batsmen displayed nerves of steel to help Bangladesh end the tri-series on a high – the victory helping them leapfrog Sri Lanka to move up to the sixth spot in ODI rankings. These were innings of tremendous responsibility, characteristic of cricketers who know a thing or two about pacing and controlling a chase. Coming in at a dicey situation, with the side reduced to 160 for 4 in a chase of 271, Mushfiqur played his role to perfection, as did Mahmudullah who laid the finishing touches, helping Bangladesh over the finish line with eight deliveries to spare.
The approach of Tamim and Sarkar – to mix caution with aggression – was well founded as it was close on the heels of New Zealand losing wickets in a flurry at the back-end of their innings. Having been asked to bat, New Zealand lost Luke Ronchi early but a 133-run second wicket stand between Tom Latham (84) and Neil Broom (63) laid a solid platform. Even though Latham and Broom fell in quick succession, Ross Taylor and Corey Anderson did a good job of repairing the innings ahead of the death overs. Having reached 206 for 3 at the end of the 38th over, New Zealand would have eyed their second successive 300-plus score. But Bangladesh’s spirited display meant that New Zealand could only manage 64 runs in the last 12 overs.
The good death bowling performance helped Bangladesh carry the momentum to their run chase. Tamim was at his adventurous best. There were a few edges that went to the boundary ropes, a couple of balls hurried on to him and he just about managed to negotiate them. But he didn’t let go of anything that was in his arc, neither did Sabbir, who was also reprieved by a dropped chance. Both registered half-centuries and a hundred-run stand was raised. But the job was only half done.
Tamim failed in his attempt to clear Mitchell Santner, finding Hamish Bennett holding on to a good catch at the deep. Sabbir was run-out soon after – out-run by Mosaddek Hossain when both batsmen landed at the striker’s end. Mosaddek himself was trapped in front by Jeetan, New Zealand attempted to do what Bangladesh had done when they were bowling. And it was in this kind of situation that two hands are always better than one, as Taylor would vouch. While the New Zealand veteran was running out of partners, Bangladesh had two of their most experienced batsmen at the crease – Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim. With deft touches and quick running between the wickets interspersed with the timely hits to the fence, Mushfiqur and Shakib revived Bangladesh’s essay, ensuring that their side remained in the hunt.
The pitch was such that the batsmen new at the crease needed to show good application to adjust its slowish nature. That discipline was a key requirement was further emphasised in the first innings as one batsmen followed another in pursuit of quick runs and New Zealand lost four wickets for 28 runs to be in danger of being bowled out. Even as Taylor tried to hold the innings together with a fighting half-century, wickets at the other end meant that he couldn’t tee off to his liking, needing to ensure New Zealand batted their quota of 50 overs.
Having done the job several times in the past, the Bangladesh veteran pair would have been cognizant of the importance of taking the game deep. However, New Zealand sent some jitters in the Bangladesh camp when Shakib was dismissed by Bennett after failing to get on top of a pull. This was about the same time New Zealand had lost their way when they were trying to set an imposing total. But Bangladesh had another veteran in Mahmudullah, who too had played saviour in the past and he collaborated with Mushfiqur in an unbeaten 72-run stand to pilot Bangladesh to the target in the penultimate over with five wickets in hand.
Earlier, the start didn’t go as well as Bangladesh would have hoped for, as their bowlers erred in their line and length, which New Zealand capitalised on. Despite Ronchi falling for his first single-digit score in this series, failing to read a slower cutter from Mustafizur, his dismissal did not put the brakes on New Zealand’s scoring as Broom joined Latham and they went about building a strong framework for New Zealand’s innings.
Bangladesh didn’t help their cause by putting down multiple chances. One was as early as the opening over when Nasir Hossain grassed a simple take at square leg when Latham was yet to get off the mark. After Latham had crossed fifty, Mosaddek was blind-sided for a moment by the non-striker and could not hold on to a chip, and the woes continued as Sarkar misjudged a catch at the deep to reprieve Broom. But the script changed drastically towards the end of New Zealand’s innings as they aimed too high and ended up at least 20-30 runs short.
Brief scores:
New Zealand 270/8 in 50 overs (Tom Latham 84, Neil Broom 63, Ross Taylor 60*; Shakib Al Hasan 2-41, Nasir Hossain 2-47)
lost to Bangladesh 271/5 in 48.2 overs (Tamim Iqbal 65, Sabbir Rahman 65, Mahmudullah 46, Mushfiqur Rahim 45; Jeetan Patel 2-55) by 5 wickets
