Tigers record maiden victory over Kiwis
Friday, 10 October 2008
Bangladesh turned around spectacularly from the edge of an abyss to dismantle fancied New Zealand by seven wickets in the One Day International (ODI) series opener, their first stylish triumph against a top team Thursday since their victory over South Africa in the World Cup, reports bdnews24.com.
With the first-ever thumping of the No. 4 side in the ODIs, a new-look Bangladesh signalled that all was not lost and a new chapter, indeed, could open up after some top players ditched the national team in favour of the wealthy Indian Cricket League.
They have now beaten all major cricketing nations except England and the West Indies in the shorter version of the game.
The Tigers reached 202 for three with 27 balls to spare after Mashrafee Bin Mortaza helped the hosts restrict New Zealand to 201 for nine at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
Opener Junaed Siddique, cool after losing his partner Tamim Iqbal, hammered a career-best 85 while skipper Mohammad Ashraful returned to form with 60 not out to propel the amazing turnaround from the depth of despair.
Man of the match Siddique and Ashraful together put on 109 runs for the third wicket. When the left-handed opener gave an easy catch to Jacob Oram off Mark Gilliespie, Bangladesh had been close to the victory with only eight runs needed from 38 balls with seven wickets in hand.
Ashraful along with Shakib Al Hasan took the side home in 45.3 overs to spark off a wild celebration in the country.
Siddique and Mushfiqur Rahim (30 off 57 balls), who was promoted up the order, steadied the innings with 67 runs for the second wicket after Tamim had fallen on 12, leaving the side at 18 for one in 4.1 overs.
The 20-year old opener, Siddique, faced 139 balls and smashed eight fours. Ashraful, who had been going through a bad patch since his century against the United Arab Emirates in the Asia Cup, hit his 15th ODI fifty to remain unbeaten off 56 balls, studded with five fours and one six.
Earlier, pace spearhead Mashrafee tore through the Black Caps batting order with four wickets in a miserly spell. His bowling colleagues, at times erratic, put up a spirited show to make sure the visitors did not get too far beyond the 200-mark.
Oram struck his 10th ODI fifty to rebuild New Zealand innings but could not stop the side from posting their lowest total against Bangladesh.
With the first-ever thumping of the No. 4 side in the ODIs, a new-look Bangladesh signalled that all was not lost and a new chapter, indeed, could open up after some top players ditched the national team in favour of the wealthy Indian Cricket League.
They have now beaten all major cricketing nations except England and the West Indies in the shorter version of the game.
The Tigers reached 202 for three with 27 balls to spare after Mashrafee Bin Mortaza helped the hosts restrict New Zealand to 201 for nine at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
Opener Junaed Siddique, cool after losing his partner Tamim Iqbal, hammered a career-best 85 while skipper Mohammad Ashraful returned to form with 60 not out to propel the amazing turnaround from the depth of despair.
Man of the match Siddique and Ashraful together put on 109 runs for the third wicket. When the left-handed opener gave an easy catch to Jacob Oram off Mark Gilliespie, Bangladesh had been close to the victory with only eight runs needed from 38 balls with seven wickets in hand.
Ashraful along with Shakib Al Hasan took the side home in 45.3 overs to spark off a wild celebration in the country.
Siddique and Mushfiqur Rahim (30 off 57 balls), who was promoted up the order, steadied the innings with 67 runs for the second wicket after Tamim had fallen on 12, leaving the side at 18 for one in 4.1 overs.
The 20-year old opener, Siddique, faced 139 balls and smashed eight fours. Ashraful, who had been going through a bad patch since his century against the United Arab Emirates in the Asia Cup, hit his 15th ODI fifty to remain unbeaten off 56 balls, studded with five fours and one six.
Earlier, pace spearhead Mashrafee tore through the Black Caps batting order with four wickets in a miserly spell. His bowling colleagues, at times erratic, put up a spirited show to make sure the visitors did not get too far beyond the 200-mark.
Oram struck his 10th ODI fifty to rebuild New Zealand innings but could not stop the side from posting their lowest total against Bangladesh.