BAN vs NZ 1st T20, BAN vs NZ 2023

1. Shakib

2. Mahmudullah

4. Tamim Iqbal

5. Mushfiq Rahim

Earlier, after being invited to bat first, New Zealand got off to a horrible start as they lost their top four wickets in a jiffy and were reeling at 20/4 in the 5th over. Chapman and Neesham started the rescue mission, but their progress was abruptly halted by Rishad Hossain, who trapped  Chapman for 19 runs and ceased the 30-run partnership. Santner played a handy knock of 23 runs, while Neesham fell just 2 runs short of his half-century. Adam Milne remained unbeaten on 12-ball 16 runs and helped the Black Caps post a respectable 134/9 in 20 overs. 

Shoriful Islam shone with the ball for the visitors, grabbing three wickets. Mahedi Hasan and Mustafizur chipped in with a couple of wickets, while Rishad Hossain and Tanzim Hasan Sakib celebrated a solitary wicket.  

In pursuit of a paltry 134 runs, Rony Talukdar and Najmul Hossain Shanto departed after playing a cameo of 10 and 19 runs, respectively. Soumya Sarkar joined Litton Das at number four, and the duo started building the partnership in the middle. However,  Ben Sears clean-bowled Soumya for 22 runs and ceased the budding partnership. 

Towhid Hridoy and Litton played sensibly in the middle overs and rotated the strike carefully to keep the scoreboard ticking, but Santner trapped Hridoy for 19 runs and halted their progress. He was soon followed by Afif Hossain, who departed for a mere one run and left Bangladesh in a spot of bother. 

The equation came down to 24 runs off the last three overs, but Mahedi Hasan and Litton ensured that Bangladesh crossed the winning line, securing victory by 5 wickets with 8 balls to spare. Litton remained unbeaten on 42 runs, while Mahedi contributed an unbeaten 19 runs. 

New Zealand crawled back into the game in the second half of the innings but failed to defend 134 runs. Tim Southee, Adam Milne, James Neesham, Ben Sears, and Mitchell Santner celebrated a solitary wicket for the Black Caps. 

Bangladesh secured their first-ever T20I victory against the Black Caps in New Zealand and they will look to carry the momentum in the upcoming matches of the series.