Martin Guptill yesterday returned to form with an unbeaten century as New Zealand powered to an eight-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first one-day international (ODI) in Napier.
Bangladesh set New Zealand a modest run chase of 233 after suffering an early collapse and the Black Caps overhauled it in 44.3 overs, finishing at 233-2.
It is Bangladesh’s fifth tour to New Zealand and they are yet to win a match in any format, with their next chance coming in the second ODI in Christchurch on Saturday.
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza said that his team were adjusting to New Zealand conditions and still hoped for a breakthrough victory.
“We bowled well, but we were struggling batting. We just lost too many wickets early,” he said.
Guptill and Henry Nicholls pressed their case to open the batting at the Cricket World Cup as New Zealand made light work of the target.
Guptill, returning from injury, put a poor run of scores behind him with a commanding 117 not out. He had been averaging less than 10 since his most recent international innings of note, a big-hitting 138 against Sri Lanka early last month.
His effort against Bangladesh was more controlled, with the batsman under no pressure and content to pick off loose deliveries. His 15th ODI century came off 103 balls, and included six fours and three sixes.
“Martin was brilliant, a fantastic hundred, and the contributions [from teammates] around that were really good as well,” Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson said.
Nicholls looked comfortable in just his third outing since being promoted up the order, scoring 53 before a tame dismissal when the ball hit his pad and rolled onto the stumps.
Veteran batsman Ross Taylor also contributed an unbeaten 45.
Mohammad Mithun was the pick of Bangladesh’s hitters, grinding out a hard-fought 62 after coming to the crease with Bangladesh reeling at 42-4 after the decision to bat first backfired.
Mohammad Saifuddin provided support with a gritty 41 as Bangladesh were bowled out for 232 with seven balls of their allotted 50 overs remaining.
Spinner Mitchell Santner and paceman Trent Boult took three wickets apiece for New Zealand.
The Black Caps struck early when Tamim Iqbal departed for 5 in the second over and Liton Das soon followed, leaving Bangladesh at 19-2.
A rattled Mushfiqur Rahim was struck on the helmet by a Boult bouncer and was out for 5 just a few balls later.
Defiant Soumya Sarkar smashed 30 off 22 balls before he was caught and bowled by Matt Henry.
Sabbir Rahman summed up Bangladesh’s batting woes when he was stumped trying to sweep Santner to the boundary. Rahman’s foot slipped as he crouched for the shot and he tumbled to the ground just outside his crease as wicketkeeper Tom Latham whipped off the bails.
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