BAN Ends 18-match losing streak and records first ever ODI win in New Zealand

Bangladesh registered their first ODI win on New Zealand soil after ending their 18 ODI match losing streak against the hosts.

NZ vs BAN (credit: Twitter)

New Delhi: The Najumul Hossain Shanto-led Bangladesh team defeated Tom Latham’s New Zealand in the third and final ODI of the three-match series by nine wickets at the McLean Park in Napier, on December 23, ending their 18-ODI losing streak against N and registering their first ever win against the New Zealand Black Caps in the 50-over format.

Batting first, New Zealand were bowled out for just 98 runs and the visitors managed to chase it down with 9 wickets and 209 balls in hand. Tanzim Hasan Sakib was named Player of the Match for his astonishing bowling spell. He picked up three big wickets of Rachin Ravindra, Tom Blundell and Henry Nicholls in his seven-over spell, conceding just 14 runs. His spell also included two maiden overs. He was instrumental in beating New Zealand to their lowest ever ODI total against Bangladesh.

“Very happy. How I started, it was really good. I really enjoyed bowling there. The ball was nibbling, the ball was swinging. It helped the team and set the tone for the team. I tried wicket-to-wicket bowling and tried to hold my line and length. The wicket really helped me. Was really a god for pace bowlers. Last match I bowled here and there. I had to keep it too tight today, that’s what I did today,” Hasan Sakib said in the post-match presentation.

“Really proud of the way the boys played this game. We believed we could win this series, we couldn’t finish well in the first two games but the boys played good cricket and we got the right result today. The bowlers have bowled in the right environment for a long time and I am very proud of the way they bowled today. I wasn’t trying to break, I was just playing my game. This match will give us a lot of confidence. Hopefully, boys can play good cricket in the T20s too,” Bangladesh captain Hossain Shanto said after their dominant win.

Despite losing the match, New Zealand managed to win the series 2-1 and now the focus will shift to the T20I leg of this tour, which will start from December 27 at the same venue as McLean Park in Napier.