Bangladesh secured a historic five-wicket win against New Zealand in their first T20I. Bangladesh’s decision to bowl paid off well as their bowlers put up a fantastic show, restricting New Zealand to a low score on a tricky Napier pitch. Shoriful Islam took three wickets for 26 runs, while Mustafizur Rahman 2/15 in four overs.
Mahedi Hasan shone with both bat and ball, triggering the Kiwis’ batting collapse with a wicket in the opening over. Later, he contributed an unbeaten 19 runs off 16 balls.
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Chasing 135 runs in the first T20I, opener Litton Das played a crucial role, staying calm and leading the chase. Despite losing wickets regularly, Litton’s composed innings, along with Mahedi Hasan and Towhid Hridoy’s valuable contributions, helped Bangladesh reach the target with five wickets remaining. Litton’s unbeaten 42 off 36 balls was vital in steering Bangladesh to a 1-0 lead in the T20I series.
Shoriful Islam stood out among the Bangladesh bowlers, taking three wickets for 26 runs, including consecutive dismissals of Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips. Although Adam Milne’s early breakthroughs brought hope for New Zealand, Bangladesh’s determination and resilience prevented any significant comeback. Mustafizur’s economical bowling towards the end and Litton’s smart batting in the final overs secured the historic win for Bangladesh.
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This victory marked Bangladesh’s first-ever T20I win against New Zealand in New Zealand and their first triumph in three attempts at Napier. As the series heads to Mount Maunganui for the remaining matches, Bangladesh carries the momentum from this historic win. Meanwhile, New Zealand aims to bounce back and level the series on their home ground.