A fabulous century from opener Tom Latham in a striking partnership with Colin Munro has fired New Zealand to an easy 77-run win over Bangladesh in the first ODI.
The duo took the Bangladesh bowling apart in a blistering 158-run partnership which powered the hosts to an imposing 341 for 7 after electing to bat at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Monday.
A superb spectacle of clean hitting was on display as the pair blasted 158 runs in just 17.5 overs to leave the tourists in a hunt for their record chase against the Black Caps.
Bangladesh batsmen then struggled to rotate the strike regularly in the steep chase and desperately looked for boundaries to score runs quickly on a pitch that offered little for the bowlers.
But going after the bowlers under the pressure of the huge target brought about their downfall as the Tigers ended up throwing their wickets away before folding for 264 in 44.5.
New Zealand now have 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
It was the way New Zealand paced their innings, even before Latham and Munro had taken charge, which helped them keep a firm hold on the match all through.
The 24-year-old Latham blasted 137 off 121 balls, bedecking his second ODI century with seven fours and four sixes.
Munro complemented his partner by hammering 87 off 61 with eight boundaries and four sixes.
Both the batsmen fell at the death when New Zealand suffered a mini-collapse. But the damage had already been done.
None of the Bangladesh bowlers were spared from the onslaught as even Shakib Al Hasan, whose three wickets included that of Munro, finished 3 for 69.
Skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza returned no wickets for 61 after conceding 18 runs from his last over.
Playing his first ODi after injury lay-off, Mustafizur Rahman bagged the prized scalp of Latham but his figures, too, read an expensive 2-62.
The other pacer Taskin Ahmed gave away 70 runs for his two wickets from nine overs.
The Tigers looked sharp in the field early on but as the match progressed, misfields and let offs crept in and then took over. To make matters worse, they spilled three catches including one from Latham on 112 when New Zealand were 267 for 4.
Bangladesh`s chase was filled with desperate swings of the willow from the beginning as the top order failed to lay down a strong base.
Opener Imrul Kayes (15) survived a drop catch in the second ball he faced. He then wasted a review opportunity on a caught behind decision coming off a wild pull shot.
Paceman James Neesham then piled misery on Bangladesh taking the next three wickets.
Soumya Sarkar (1) and Mahmudullah (0) fell cheaply in quick succession. A lofted shot sent back Tamim Iqbal (38). Bangladesh slipped to 81 for 4 in the 18th over.
Shakib (59) and Mushfiqur Rahim (42) then showed some grit.
The former clubbed Mitchell Santner for a boundary to take Bangladesh past 100 in the 23rd over as the already demanding asking rate had the batsmen on their toes.
Pick of the bowlers in the match for Bangladesh, Shakib played a run-a-ball knock to reach his 31st ODI half-century cracking five boundaries and two sixes.
He and Mushfiqur paired in Bangladesh’s strongest resistance by scoring 63 runs for the fifth wicket.
When Shakib appeared to be pulling things back for Bangladesh in their unlikely chase, he got carried away and was picked out by a bouncer from Lockie Ferguson.
It was clear that bowlers were pulling their length short so often to force the batsmen to hole out the fielders posted around the outfield. But even after coming in at seven, Sabbir Rahman (16) followed the others by going for a slog.
Mushfiqur kept the chase going with Mosaddek Hossain, who played a number of solid shots and reached his maiden ODI half-century.
He struck an unbeaten 44-ball 50 cracking five fours and three sixes.
The runs were once again coming thick and fast, though the asking rate was well above 10 per over.
But Mushfiqur went for a quick single and pulled a hamstring while stretching for the non-striker’s end.
He stood up and tried to walk it off, but eventually had to walk off retired hurt and that put paid to whatever faint hope Bangladesh had.
Asked to field first, Mashrafe and Mustafizur took the new ball duties and the youngster drew first blood by dismissing Martin Guptill (15) with a slower.
Kane Williamson then played himself in with Latham still finding his feet and looking harmless at the other end.
The Black Caps captain added 48 runs with Latham and had just begun to get in the groove when Taskin had him caught behind for 31.
Latham then stepped up and showed fine temperament to reach his fifty off 56 deliveries, hitting two boundaries and a six.
He steadily picked up pace by rotating the strike and running hard to convert singles into doubles with Neil Broom (22).
But Shakib then spun up two quick breaks to lead a fightback.
Broom (22) was dropped by Mahmudullah on 17, but the wily spinner got his man to break his 55-run third-wicket stand with Latham.
Neesham (12) soon walked back in similar fashion with one that spun the other way as the hosts slipped to 158 for 4 in the 29th over.
But Bangladesh’s joy was brief as Latham and Munro took centrestage.
Munro began by slogging Mosaddek over long-on for a six and with a punishing drive to an overpitched delivery from Shakib.
After Mashrafe took the spinners off to bring himself and Mustafizur back into the attack, the duo watched the seamers for three overs, scoring five runs from overs 33 to 35.
They then switched gears again. With the bowlers struggling with accuracy, Latham focused on timing and placement while Munro’s knock was all about power-hitting.
They galloped away to bring 200 in the 37th over and then 250 in the 43rd with a slew of boundaries and sixes. Mustafizur, Shakib, Taskin and Mashrafe each received the treatment.
Latham’s ton came off 100 deliveries through a cleanly hit six over deep midwicket while Munro’s half-century was from a six over cow corner off 44 balls. Taskin was at the receiving end on both occasions.
But they did not stop there, kept milking the runs and threatened to take the total past 350. But Shakib and Mustafizur came to Bangladesh`s rescue, albeit too late.
Taskin then went through the gates of Luke Ronchi (5) before Mitchell Santner (8) and Tim Southee (7) helped their team equal the highest total at the ground. –bdnews24.com
