In a stunning series-opener, Bangladesh’s bowlers orchestrated a remarkable victory against New Zealand, restricting the hosts to a below-par total of 134 for 9. Shoriful Islam and Mahedi Hasan led the charge, with Shoriful claiming three wickets for 26 runs and Mahedi taking two crucial wickets in the first over, setting the tone for a New Zealand collapse.
Chasing a target of 135, Bangladesh faced some early hiccups, but opener Litton Das emerged as the anchor, remaining composed as wickets fell around him. Mahedi Hasan played a crucial role, not only with the ball but also with the bat, contributing an unbeaten 19 runs in the tense closing stages of the match.
Despite a nervy chase, Litton held his nerve and accelerated in the latter part of his innings, finishing unbeaten on 42 off 36 balls. The win marked Bangladesh’s first T20I victory against New Zealand in New Zealand and their first triumph in Napier in three attempts. The bowlers’ exceptional performance, coupled with Litton and Mahedi’s resilience, handed Bangladesh a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The contest now moves to Mount Maunganui for the remaining two games, with Bangladesh looking to build on their historic win.