Kiwis squeeze to series win

New Zealand inched to a 2-0 margin of leadership in the current One Day International series against Bangladesh with a 3-wicket win at Dhaka. Chris Cairns scored an unbeaten 51-ball 17 to guide his team home, as they faltered in the chase of Bangladesh's 146 all out.

Batting first the home side lost early wickets and slipped to 25/4 in the 6th over. Nafis Iqbal (0), Aftab Ahmed (4), Habibul Bashar (0) and Javed Omar (12) were victims of Kyle Mills and James Franklin, two apiece. Batting at seven, Khaled Mashud topscored with 41 but the extent of the support he received was reflected in the event of Rajin Saleh (28) being the only other person to cross 20 runs.

Bangladesh ultimately were made to settle for 146 in 43.4 overs, as Styris (3/17) and Cairns (2/15) chiefly worked over the lower order.

Their turn at the crease, New Zealand started comfortably but not explosively and received a 74-run opening partnership in the better part of 20 overs. Nathan Astle was the first out, caught by Omar off Ahmed for 29 and thus began a collapse of 7 wickets for 59 runs.

Hamish Marshall (2), Scott Styris (12), Craig McMillan (7) and Brendon McCullum (0) were added to Aftab Ahmed's wicket column and he finished with the commendable figures of 10-1-31-5. Only Matthew Sinclair (62), at the top of the order, showed true signs of getting on top of the bowling in his 73-ball effort that included some 9 boundaries.

Ahmed's bowling figures took historic status with McCullum's name at 125/6, as it was the first ever Bangladeshi 5-wicket haul in ODI cricket. Tapash Baisya made his first contribution with the ball in the 38th over to mark the score to 133/7 by dismissing veteran Chris Harris for 7. Bangladesh looked potentially game to score a rare international win, but Cairns and stand-in skipper Daniel Vettori saw things through with a laboured unbeaten 15-run stand.

Aftab Ahmed was named the Man of the Match despite his team's fortunes for his fine exhibition of medium pace, bowling for the first time in ODI cricket.

Match Summary:

Bangladesh innings 146 all out (43.4 overs)
Khaled Mashud 41 (71), Rajin Saleh 28 (78)
SB Styris 3/17 (7.4), CL Cairns 2/15 (5), KD Mills 2/25 (8), JEC Franklin 2/34 (4)

New Zealand innings 148/7 (44.4 overs)
MS Sinclair 62 (73), NJ Astle 29 (57), CL Cairns 17 not out (51)
Aftab Ahmed 5/31 (10)

Result: New Zealand won by 3 wickets
Series: 2-0 (NZ)
Man of the Match: Aftab Ahmed (Ban)

Posted by Liam