Maiden centuries for Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell yesterday set up a crushing 164-run win for New Zealand in the third one-day international in Wellington, giving the hosts a clean sweep of the series.
Conway blasted 126 from 110 balls and Mitchell finished on 100 not out after New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat, making 318-6.
Bangladesh were never in the hunt and were all out for 154 after 42.4 overs, with Mahmudullah’s unbeaten 76 the only highlight as eight batsmen failed to reach double figures.
Photo: AFP
Jimmy Neesham and Matt Henry did the damage for New Zealand with the ball, taking 5-27 and 4-27 respectively.
Paceman Rubel Hossain was the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers, with 3-70, but the tourists’ attack struggled on a green Basin Reserve wicket.
“We were just not good enough,” Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal said. “No doubt the Black Caps played unbelievably well, but we didn’t perform. Sometimes the small things can hurt you, the [dropped] catches and the run-out chances.”
Conway capitalized on the tourists’ woes and his century was just reward for the South Africa-born batsman, who has been in outstanding form since he was first selected for the Blacks Caps late last year.
His performances include 72 in the second one-day international against Bangladesh and an unbeaten 99 when he was left stranded in a T20 match against Australia last month.
Mitchell looked like he would suffer a similar fate in Wellington before scrambling home to bring up his century on the last ball of the innings as wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim tried to stump him.
“I was just trying to swing as hard as I could, there were a few played and missed in there,” Mitchell said. “I’ll take them any way they come. It’s just nice to get the job done.”
Both Conway and Mitchell were making only their third one-day appearances for New Zealand after debuting in the series opener against Bangladesh in Dunedin last week.
New Zealand were looking shaky before their arrival after losing three wickets within 13 balls to slump to 57-3.
Tom Latham and Conway consolidated with a 63-run partnership, before the New Zealand skipper departed for 18.
That was the cue for Conway and Mitchell to go on the attack, combining for a 159-run stand that put the match beyond Bangladesh’s reach.
Openers Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar were dismissed in the first five overs and a steady stream of wickets prevented any meaningful partnerships forming.
The teams meet next in a three-match T20 series opening in Hamilton on Sunday.
Meanwhile, in Antigua and Barbuda on Thursday, a patient, unbeaten maiden Test century by Nkrumah Bonner anchored a day of West Indies batting resistance against Sri Lanka as the hosts ground through the fifth and final day of the first Test to get a draw.
Bonner compiled a dogged 113 not out in just over seven hours during which he faced 274 balls, stroking 13 fours and one six. It ensured his team comfortably saved the match at 236-4, having been set an unlikely target of 375.
The former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani on Thursday was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for bank and tax fraud after he stole nearly US$17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player’s bank account. Ippei Mizuhara, who was supposed to bridge the gap between the Japanese athlete and his English-speaking teammates and fans, was sentenced in federal court in Santa Ana to four years and nine months after pleading guilty last year. He was ordered to pay US$18 million in restitution, with nearly US$17 million going to Ohtani and the remainder to the US Internal Revenue Service. He was
Aaliyah Edwards on Monday pulled off the stunner of the opening round of the Unrivaled one-on-one tournament, beating top-seeded Breanna Stewart 12-0. The tournament to be played over three days featured 23 of the WNBA’s 36 players. A few had other commitments and a couple others were out with injuries. Stewart got the ball first against Edwards and missed a contested layup. Edwards then hit a three-pointer from the corner and a jumper from the elbow to go up 5-0. The player who scores keeps the basketball. Edwards hit two layups and a three-pointer to seal the win. Stewart, a two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player,
SPEEDSKATER: Her bronze medal ended Taiwan’s run at the Asian Winter Games without a medal since the nation first participated in the second iteration in 1990 Speedskater Chen Ying-chu yesterday made history as the first athlete representing Taiwan to secure a medal at the Asian Winter Games. Competing at the HIC Speedskating Oval in Harbin, China, Chen clocked 10.510 seconds in the women’s 100m event, finishing third behind South Koreans Lee Na-hyum and Kim Min-sun, who posted times of 10.501 and 10.505 seconds respectively. Her bronze medal ended Taiwan’s drought at the Asian Winter Games since the nation first participated in the second iteration in 1990. This year’s Games mark Chen’s debut at the event. Previously excelling in roller speedskating, she won six medals at world championships before transitioning
The 40-year-old LeBron James on Thursday became the oldest player to score 40 points in an NBA game, putting up a season-high 42 in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-112 victory over the Golden State Warriors. James passed the record held by Michael Jordan, his idol and the only other NBA player to score 40 after his 40th birthday. “I’m old, that’s my take,” James said when asked about his latest achievement. “I need a glass of wine and some sleep, that’s what I think.” Jordan did it for the Washington Wizards just three days after turning 40 in February 2003. James is 38