Bangladesh VS New Zealand T20 International Series 1 st Match Played at SBNCS, Dhaka on 1 September 2021
Brief Scorecard:
New Zealand 60 All Out in 16.5 Overs (Tom Latham 18, Henry Nicholls 18, Mustafizur Rahman 3/13, Nasum Ahmed 2/5, Mohammad Saifuddin 2/7, Shakib Al Hasan 2/20, Mahedi Hasan 1/15) Bangladesh 62/3 in 15 Overs (Shakib Al Hasan 25, Mushfiqur Rahim 16*, Mahmudullah Riad 14*, Ajaj Patel 1/7, Cole McConchie 1/ 19, Rachin Ravindra 1/21) Bangladesh Won by 7 wickets Player of The Match: Shakib Al Hasan
On an apology of an wicket where ball started gripping and turning right from the first delivery Team Tigers rocked Black Caps winning by 7 wickets. Black Caps looking like fishes out of water were crashed to paltry 60 all out huffing and puffing. Tigers also took 15 overs in getting past the target loosing 3 wickets. First win of Bangladesh against New Zealand in T20 International. But the statement of player of the match Shakib Al Hasan (scoring 25 runs in 33 balls and taking 2/10) summed up everything. “This wicket was even more difficult than the wickets used against Australia series.” Any win for an underdog against a formidable opposition is an achievement. But there is little pleasure in trapping opponent on such an atrocious wicket. Anyway, Bangladesh would take it whatever way it was achieved. Wicket was equally difficult for both the teams .
Bangladesh played better and won. No team of the world would play anything better on such a wicket against very difficult Bangladesh attack having too many horses for the courses . Bangladesh could win through their three master class batsmen Shakib, Mushfique and Mahmudullah all their tricks out of their hats.
The news of Tamim announcing his unavailability for the ensuing T20 world cup rocked Bangladeshi fans just before the match. He informed appearing in his face book that he told Chief Selector Minhazul Abedin and BCB boss Nazmul Hasan MP for not considering him for the world cup. Such an unexpected announcement at the very last minute was not very professional on the part of a senior player. It would definitely hurt Bangladesh plan. But that is what it is. No one remains indispensible for anything forever. Life goes on. An unwilling horse must not be forced to drink water.
Earlier on the afternoon Tom Latham perhaps did a mistake opting to bat after winning the toss. With his inexperienced batting resources he should have judged the pace, bounce and turn of the wicket bowling first. Mahedy struck with the 3 rd ball of his very first over picking the debutant Rachin Ravindra for a golden duck. Will Young was cleaned up Shakib also in his first over. Nasum Ahmed struck twice in his first over as well first getting the prized scalp of Collin de Grandhomme caught by Naim and then cleaning up Tom Blundell. New Zealand having no clue how their tent caught fire were reeling at 9/4 by the 4 th over. Two New Zealand senior players Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls tried their best to weather the situation. But on a double paced wicket where ball was not coming to the bat at even height their best efforts could only prolong their demise. The pair added 34 runs before another surge witnessed 3 wickets falling for 6 runs. Mohammad Saifuddin first got rid of both Latham and Nicholls and Shakib made another debutant Cole McConchie biting the dust (golden duck). At 7/49 the stage was set for Champion bowler Mustafiz for his hunt. He mopped up the tail in no time taking 3/13 in 2.5 overs. Black Caps were bundled out for 60, the lowest score by any team against Bangladesh in T20 international. In the last match of just past series Australia was all out 62.
It was a very easy target. But Bangladesh also struggled. Naim and Liton were sent back by the 3 rd over with scoreboard reading 2/7. Ajaj Patel and Cole McConchie also bowled tight. McConchie got a wicket with his very first ball in T20 International. Shakib assessing the wicket well applied himself and took his chances. His 25 in 33 was definitely the game changer even in the chase of a nominal target. Mushfique 16* from 26 Balls and Mahmudullah 14* from 22 ensured that there was no further drama. Bangladesh won its first T20 international against New Zealand. But on such a tricky wicket neither team should be satisfied. Circumstances can alter cases. Wickets would not change character. Winning matters for Bangladesh as far as improving their T20 Ranking. But cannot say it will be at all an ideal preparation for the world cup playing on such wicket. Bangladesh problem with openers prolonged .Now with Tamim not available it would compound for the World cup mission.
BDST: 0805 HRS, SEPT 02, 2021
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