New Zealand has cruised to their second easy win of the tour, as they crushed Bangladesh by a whopping margin of 146 runs. With this win at Napier, the Kiwis have taken a 1-0 lead in the three ODI series against the sub-continental minnows.
The Kiwis won the toss and decided to bat first, but were in early trouble. In the first three overs, they had scored only a solitary run and then had had Brendon McCullum run-out for a duck. Martin Guptill also did not last too long, and the Bangladeshis were hoping for something miraculous at this stage – 19/2 in the seventh.
However, debutant Peter Ingram, continued to show the promise that he had exhibited in the T20I debut, and in partnership with the in-form Ross Taylor added 98 runs for the third wicket. Both got to respective half centuries, with Ingram almost looking like he could emulate his team-mate, Martin Guptill’s record of scoring a century on debut.
A middle order collapse left the Kiwis struggling at 187/6, and that almost meant that a target of around 250 would be what the opposition would be left chasing. As it turned out, the rather long batting line-up of New Zealand came to their rescue as Jacob Oram smashed a 40-ball 83 to propel the Kiwis with a 120 runs partnership off only 11 overs. New Zealand finished with 336/9 in their 50 overs, a target almost impossible to achieve.
The Bangladeshis began really well, as Tamim Iqbal again showed his value to the side with scintillating half century. With Imrul Kayes at the other end, the openers added 71 for the first wicket off only 64 balls, and gave the Kiwis a run for their money.
Then, the second debutant, Andy McKay stuck for the Kiwis, while the rest of the batsmen collapsed as has been their wont. At least this time around, it was the rather steep and ever-mounting asking run-rate that was to blame. Apart from Iqbal who scored a 69-ball 62, there weren’t too many other contributions and the Bangladeshis were bowled out for 190.
Oram scalped two wickets to go with his dazzling innings, and was declared the man of the match!