Martin Guptill’s second consecutive century sealed an 8-wicket victory for New Zealand against Bangladesh on Saturday at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. A disciplined bowling show form the hosts restricted the visitors for a minimal total of 226 runs. In return, New Zealand chased down the total with eight wickets in hand and 83 balls to spare.
With this victory, New Zealand clinched the 3-match ODI series with one more game to be played on February 20 in Christchurch.
Guptill provided a blasting start to the team right from the beginning, hitting 2 boundaries off Mehidy Hasan in a single over. He made sure that he should compensate for the chances missed by his team in the previous innings.
He was well supported by Henry Nicholls in a 45-run opening stand before getting out to Mustafizur Rahman. However, the loss didn’t affect Guptill’s momentum as he continued punishing the Bangladeshi attack. The Kiwi opener slammed a 33-ball fifty while skipper Kane Williamson took his time to settle in the middle.
Soon, the second wicket pair brought up a century partnership, with the Guptill scoring 61 of that. Later, the opening batsman slammed the 16th ODI hundred of his ODI career which included 11 boundaries and 4 maximums.
In the 29th over, the dangerman fell in his attempt to pull a Mustafizur delivery over the fence and was caught by Liton Das. But it was too late then as Williamson went on to Williamson register his 37th ODI fifty and along with Taylor added 41 runs to guide New Zealand to a comfortable win.
Earlier, Mohammad Mithun posted his second successive half-century against New Zealand as Bangladesh recovered from an early collapse to set a 227-run target in the second one-day international in Christchurch on Saturday.
Bangladesh were in trouble at five for 93 after 21 overs before Mithun and Sabbir Rahman put on 75 for the sixth wicket.
New Zealand assisted the Bangladesh revival with 23 extras and some sloppy fielding while Rahman had fortune on his side when an edge off a Todd Astle delivery nicked the stumps but the bails stayed on.
Trent Boult removed Liton Das (one) in the fourth over and when play resumed after a brief rain disruption Matt Henry claimed the wicket of Tamim Iqbal (five).