Bangladesh lost their second one-day international and the entire series against New Zealand at Nelson on December 20, but Soumya Sarkar’s heroic lonesome effort assisted them in avoiding numerous humiliations.
After New Zealand decided to bowl first, Jacob Duffy swiftly got a couple of them out, so it ended up up to Sarkar to assist Bangladesh with a dependable inning & help the team come back. He became much more cautious after a fast start, including a trio of fours in an over by William O Rourke. He steadied the ship quickly with Towhid Hridoy before combining forces alongside Mushfiqur Rahim.
Bangladesh vs New Zealand ODI Series 2023
Right up until Rahim became Duffy’s number three prey of the game, the two were able to put together a solid stand worth 91, influencing the total number of runs. Now that he was alone alongside the lower order, Sarkar became more open, increasing his strike rate.
Sarkar achieved his most stunning one-day international innings by persistently hitting the ball to the boundaries despite wickets falling frequently at the opposite end. He made sure BD cricket had a competitive total to work with by staying at the field till the very last over.
A sense of impending centennial crackled through the air. Sarkar unleashed a barrage of boundaries, including a six-over long-on that was like an orchestra of leather hitting a bat. With a beaming expression, he lifted his bat to his maximum height, sending a ripple effect through the Bangladeshi cricket community.
Sarkar went into overdrive after that. In a furious exhibit of strength hitting, he built a further 67 runs, bombarding the boundaries with mountain-like confidence. His career-best game of 169 runs helped BD achieve a strong 291/10, an outcome that indicated a thrilling conclusion.
Bangladesh’s bowling was unremarkable because they were unable to pose much of a threat against their hosts. Despite his high price tag, Hasan Mahmud managed to secure a few wickets, with Shoriful Islam claiming the remaining wicket. Even though their bowling appeared dull, there were still a few bright spots: debutant Rishad Hossain bowled well and appears to be a promising bowler for them going forward, and Mehidy Hasan managed to be cost-effective on this flat deck. In order to maintain their pride, they must, however, discover a lot from this game and get better in the following one.
The pursuit from New Zealand started off slowly. By enduring the early storm, Will Young and Rachin Ravindra created the groundwork for their middle-order batsman to succeed. But Bangladeshi pace wizard youngster Hasan Mahmud bowled incredibly and sent Will Young and Rachin Ravindra after a certain period. A professional chase, led by the best three players in New Zealand cricket.
With a booming 45 runs just in 33 balls, Ravindra got everything going. When Ravindra fell, Young utilized his spot, giving Nicholls moments to adjust. After that, the two shared 128 runs for their second wicket, essentially eliminating Bangladesh. Although neither reached their century, their innings made certain New Zealand consistently remained in the lead. Particularly, Nicholls’s knock was excellent considering how much stress his disappointing form had placed on him.
Regarding BD, well, there was not much penetration. They weren’t getting much from the wicket, but their measurements and lines had been extremely erratic. Mahmud gave on an average of 8 runs per over even though he took a few wickets. The one and only other bowler to take an important wicket was actually Shoriful. Bangladesh may also regret losing the first few wickets during their batting innings in retrospect, as it prevented them from reaching a score of more than 300. That pretty much summarizes the visitors’ chances of winning this game. Sarkar was outstanding, but neither of the remaining players rose to the occasion sufficiently.
Player of the Match: Soumya Sarkar said Although I’m pleased that I scored a hundred, I’m sorry we fell short. If we had won, it might have been more notable. It might have mattered if we hadn’t dropped three of our wickets during the powerplay. We had two middle-order partnerships, but we lost wickets when it mattered most. We could have obtained a good total if that hadn’t happened. We’re working hard on our net technique. I’m returning to the squad after a protracted absence. I’m simply observing the ball and attempting to play the way I want to, without worrying too much. (Best shot of the day) The pull shot over mid-wicket, I believe.
An overwhelming win for the Kiwis! They sealed the series with an unstoppable 2-0 lead by making this chase appear easy. They are going to be pleased that every single person in the team made a contribution to the match, as Bangladesh’s defense of the opponent on this level pitch appeared a little haphazard. Bangladesh must remain patient until they get a chance to beat New Zealand in their own home ground
