1st T20I: Bangladesh continue form, thump New Zealand by 7 wickets

Bangladesh continued their brilliant form in the T20Is after beating New Zealand in the first clash of the five-match series in Dhaka by 7 wickets. Chasing the modest target of 61, the home side went over the line in 15 overs. 

The hosts had a disappointing start to the chase after they suffered a couple of early blows and were reduced to 7/2 in the third over. 

But Shakib Al Hasan along with Mushfiqur Rahim provided the much-needed resistance to Bangladesh as the left-right duo stitched a crucial partnership of 30 runs for the third wicket. 

Shakib was eventually undone by Rachin Ravindra for 25 after he tried to cut a back of the length delivery but ending up edging it to the wicket-keeper Latham who completed a good catch eventually. 

But Rahim and captain Mahmudullah then made sure that there were no further loss of wickets as the two guided Bangladesh to a win. 

While Mushfiqur remained unbeaten at 16 off 26, Mahmudullah returned not out for 14 off 22. 

Earlier, in the day, Bangladesh bowlers ripped through the New Zealand batting line up to bundle them out for 60 runs in the 17th over. 

The visitors lost early wickets and were left tottering at 9/4 in the first four overs before stand-in skipper Latham and Henry Nicholls tried to steady the ship for the side. 

The two batters put 34 runs for the fifth wicket before Latham departed for 18 and his dismissal saw a flurry of wickets at a quick succession.  

Mustafizur Rahman picked up three wickets for Bangladesh while Nasum Ahmed, Shakib and Saifuddin bagged a couple of wickets apiece during the course. 

Mahmudullah expressed his delight after the win and lauded the team’s efforts. “It's a good feeling having lost a few matches. The first game is always important, but we need to come back and do this again. I think the key was that the bowlers have been hungry and disciplined,” he said after the match. 

The Blackcaps captain Latham admitted that they lost wickets at quick succession which didn’t allow them to put up runs on the board. 

“It was disappointing, the start. We built a partnership in the middle, we knew it would be tough, but we kept losing wickets. We couldn't put it together today,” he said. 

The two sides will now play each other on Friday at the same venue.