Twin-centuries by New Zealand rookies set up ODI series win over Bangladesh

Bangladesh were never in the hunt for the 319 target, all out for 154 after 42.4 overs, with Mahmudullah’s unbeaten 76 the only highlight as eight batsmen failed to reach double figures.

Jimmy Neesham and Matt Henry did the damage for New Zealand with the ball, taking five for 27 and four for 27 respectively.

Paceman Rubel Hossain was the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers, with three for 70, but the tourists’ attack struggled on a green Basin Reserve wicket.

“We were just not good enough,” Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal said.

“No doubt the Black Caps played unbelievably well but we didn’t perform. Sometimes the small things can hurt you, the (dropped) catches and the run-out chances.”

Conway capitalised on the tourists’ woes and his century was just reward for the South Africa-born batsman, who has been in outstanding form since he was first selected for the Blacks Caps late last year.

His performances include 72 in the second Bangladesh ODI and an unbeaten 99 when he was left stranded in a Twenty20 match against Australia last month.

Mitchell looked like he would suffer a similar fate in Wellington before scrambling home to bring up his century on the last ball of the innings as wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim tried to stump him.

“I was just trying to swing as hard as I could, there were a few played and missed in there,” Mitchell said.

“I’ll take them any way they come. It’s just nice to get the job done.”

Shaky start

Both Conway and Mitchell were making only their third ODI appearances for New Zealand after debuting in the series opener against Bangladesh in Dunedin last week.

New Zealand were looking shaky before their arrival after losing three wickets within 13 balls to slump to 57 for three. Tom Latham and Conway consolidated with a 63-run partnership before the New Zealand skipper departed for 18.

That was the cue for Conway and Mitchell to go on the attack, combining for a 159-run stand that put the match beyond Bangladesh’s reach.

Openers Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar were dismissed in the first five overs and a steady stream of wickets prevented any meaningful partnerships forming.

The teams will met next in a three-match Twenty20 series opening in Hamilton on Sunday.

Scoreboard

New Zealand

M. Guptill c Liton b Hossain 26

H. Nicholls c Liton b Taskin 18

D. Conway c sub (Afif) b Mustafizur 126

R. Taylor c Mushfiqur b Hossain 7

T. Latham c Miraz b Soumya 18

D. Mitchell not out 100

J. Neesham c Liton b Hossain 4

M. Santner not out 3

Extras: (b1, lb2, w10, nb3) 16

Total: (6 wickets; 50 overs) 318

Fall of wickets: 1-44 (Nicholl), 2-49 (Guptill), 3-57 (Taylor), 4-120 (Latham), 5-279 (Conway), 6-290 (Neesham)

Bowling: Mustafizur 10-0-87-1 (2nb), Taskin 10-10-52-1 (5w), Rubel 10-1-70-3 (nb1), Mahedi 7-0-46-0, Miraz 5-0-23-0, Soumya 8-0-37-1 (5w)

Bangladesh

Tamim Iqbal c Latham b Henry 1

Liton Das c Boult b Henry 21

Soumya Sarkar c Boult b Henry 1

Mohammad Mithun c Santner b Jamieson 6

Mushfiqur Rahim c & b Neesham 21

Mahmudullah not out 76

Mehidy Miraz c Conway b Neesham 0

Mahedi Hasan c Latham b Neesham 3

Taskin Ahmed c Conway b Henry 9

Rubel Hossain c Latham b Neesham 4

Mustafizur Rahman lbw b Neesham 0

Extras (b1, w10, nb1) 12

Total (all out; 42.4 overs) 154

Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Tamim), 2-18 (Soumya), 3-26 (Liton), 4-48 (Mithun), 5-77 (Mushfiqur), 6-77 (Miraz), 7-82 (Mahedi), 8-102 (Taskin), 9-154 (Rubel)

Bowling: Henry 10-2-27-4(1w), Boult 10-1-37-0(5w), Jamieson 8-0-30-1(1w,1nb), Neesham 7.4-10-27-5(2w), Mitchell 4-0-25-0(1w), Santner 3-0-7-0

Toss: New Zealand

Result: New Zealand win by 164 runs

Series: New Zealand 3-0

Man of the match: Devon Conway (NZL)

Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (NZL), Wayne Knights (NZL)

TV Umpire: Craig Brown (NZL)

Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)