Bangladesh clinched the ODI series against New Zealand 2-1 in Chattogram on Thursday, turning things around after losing the opener by 26 runs. The comeback rested squarely on the shoulders of their quick bowlers, with Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam sharing the limelight – and 18 wickets – across the last two matches.
Rana, still only 21, jolted the visitors with 5 for 32 in match two, skittling them for 198. Two days later, on a surface generally considered friendly for batting, Mustafizur’s left-arm cutters and yorkers produced 5 for 43 as Bangladesh defended 265 with 15 runs to spare. Shoriful, drafted in only hours before the first ODI, chipped in consistently and finished with five wickets of his own. Taskin Ahmed added three more, mostly in the closing overs.
Those 22 wickets are the most Bangladesh’s seamers have ever taken in a bilateral ODI series, edging past the 21 against India in 2015 – the series in which Mustafizur announced himself with figures of 6 for 43 and 5 for 50 on debut. Eleven years on, the 30-year-old was almost ruled out with a sore knee, yet passed a late fitness test and delivered again.
“He had an extraordinary performance today. Mustafiz is a great bowler who wins us many matches from difficult situations,” Mehidy Hasan Miraz said afterwards. “Having such a player helps the team in any tough situation. I have been seeing him for the last ten years so I feel confident when I see the ball in his hand in crisis moments.”
While Mustafizur remains the spearhead, Rana’s pace – regularly 145-150 kph (90-93 mph) – has added a new dimension. He now has 16 wickets in his last two ODI series and also impressed in the 2026 PSL with seven wickets in four outings.
“Our pace unit is bowling very well for a few years now,. They have been consistent over a long period of time. They have won us many matches both at home and abroad. I think if a team has a good pace unit, the momentum surely changes” Mehidy Hasan Miraz
Mehidy was equally upbeat about the newest member of that unit. “Nahid Rana is definitely a big asset for the Bangladesh team,” he said. “We will all try to take care of him, but the big advantage is how he is maintaining himself. The way he has bowled in the last two series, he gives the team great momentum. I think he can win many more matches for Bangladesh if he continues to bowl this way.”
Rana’s extra pace often forced batters onto the back foot, loosening things up for Mustafizur to work his variations at the other end. Shoriful’s angles – he gets the ball to hold its line from over the wicket to right-handers – offered a further contrast.
“I think it is a blessing that he regularly hits the 145-150kph mark. It puts a lot of extra pressure on the opposition,” Mehidy added. “It is tough to handle his pace if you are looking to score quickly, while also trying not to get out. He bowls at high speeds from the beginning of his spell to the end. It is a great achievement. The most important thing is that he is very confident on the field. Whenever I tell him to bowl, he tells me that he will do well.”
New Zealand’s batters, missing the injured Kane Williamson and Devon Conway, struggled to adapt. Only Daryl Mitchell passed fifty in the final game, falling to Mustafizur’s slower ball just when a late surge was required.
Bangladesh’s selectors now have a pleasant problem. Ebadot Hossain is close to returning from injury, and Taskin remains a first-choice when fully fit. With Rana demanding a starting spot and Shoriful’s left-arm option valuable, competition for places should intensify ahead of the next assignment, a three-match series in Sri Lanka in June.
For now, the squad will enjoy a short break before shifting to red-ball preparation. The coaching staff insist the recent white-ball success is no guarantee of Test wickets, but the confidence in the camp is evident. As Mehidy summed up, “If we keep trusting our process, the results will come – with bat, ball, or both.”
