Bangladesh kept the ODI series alive on Monday, rolling New Zealand for just 198 in 48.4 overs thanks largely to Nahid Rana’s latest five-wicket burst. The tall quick, still only 22, finished with 5 for 32 – his second five-for in as many series after 5 for 24 against Pakistan last month.
Rana struck with the first ball of three separate overs, unsettling New Zealand at the start, in the middle and again at the death. “I just tried to hit the top of off and stay patient,” he said afterwards, not looking entirely convinced by his own modesty.
New Zealand lost their first wicket in the eighth over when Henry Nicholls, the form batter from the opening match, was pinned lbw for 13. The delivery jagged in off the seam – classic sub-continent dismissal. Two overs later Will Young fended a short ball to gully for 2 and the visitors were 29 for 2.
Soumya Sarkar, recalled for his first ODI since October, then removed Tom Latham, the skipper edging behind for a hard-earned 14. Litton Das, in his 100th ODI, dived forward to complete the catch – one of two smart takes for the keeper on the day.
At 52 for 3 New Zealand needed a partnership and found one through Nick Kelly and Muhammad Abbas. Abbas broke a 33-ball boundary drought with a streaky edge to third man; Kelly followed with a genuine cover-drive and suddenly the board looked healthier. The pair added 56, the best stand of the innings, before Rana returned and had Abbas (19) looping a top-edge. Litton sprinted back towards fine leg to claim it.
Kelly kept New Zealand afloat almost single-handedly, shuffling around the crease and taking on the quicks. He smacked Taskin Ahmed for three fours in an over, survived a blow on the visor from Shoriful Islam, and reached fifty in 74 balls. The left-hander’s luck finally ran out on 83 when he holed out to mid-wicket, Shoriful again the bowler.
From 160 for 5 the tail offered little. Josh Clarkson sliced leg-spinner Rishad Hossain to point for 6, Dean Foxcroft pulled Rana straight to deep square, and Jayden Lennox lasted one ball, yorked comprehensively. Rana nearly claimed a sixth with another searing yorker, Nathan Smith just jamming his bat down in time.
Bangladesh’s ground fielding matched the bowling: singles cut off inside the ring, boundaries saved on the rope, Towhid Hridoy diving at long-on for the final catch that ended the innings. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, pleased but measured, called it “a complete bowling effort – now the batters have to finish the job.”
Pitch conditions looked typical for Mirpur: a touch of early nip, then slow and skiddy, with spin likely to grip later on. Anything near 200 should be chaseable, yet the surface rarely gets quicker under lights, so Bangladesh will still need one properly calm partnership.
New Zealand, meanwhile, must hope their own seamers find similar assistance. “We’re 20–30 short, no doubt,” Kelly admitted, “but if we strike early it’s game on.” With Rana already in the book for another five-for, the hosts have the series level in their sights.
