After losing the first ODI, Bangladesh fought back courtesy Nahid Rana as he picked up yet another five-wicket haul in his career to dismantle New Zealand. Nahid Rana stood up for Bangladesh when it mattered with series on the line for them and demolished the Kiwis in grand fashion. Nick Kelly resisted for New Zealand but Rana’s 5-wicket haul meant the Kiwis were restricted to 198 in 48.4 overs.
In reply, Bangladesh lost a couple of early wickets but through excellent fifties from Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto and an unbeaten 30 odd from Towhid Hridoy meant Bangladesh got to the target with 6 wickets in hand and 14.3 overs to spare. A convincing win for the hosts to roar back and level the series 1-1.
Nahid Rana’s 5-wicket haul limits New Zealand to 198 in 48.4 overs
Winning the toss and deciding to bat first, Henry Nicholls and Nick Kelly came out to bat for New Zealand while Taskin Ahmed had the ball in hand for Bangladesh. It was a sedate start for New Zealand as Bangladesh bowled tight lines and lengths. The opening batters put on 25 for the first wicket in 7 overs before Nicholls was the first to depart for 13 off 26 balls with 2 fours to his name to Nahid Rana.
Will Young came out to bat next. He did not last long as with the addition of 2 runs to the score, Young fell for 2 off 7 balls to Rana yet again as the Kiwis were rocked early in the power play.
Captain and keeper batter Tom Latham came out to bat next. After the first 10 overs, New Zealand were 28/2. Nick Kelly showed resistance out there and tried to forge some sort of a partnership with Latham. Latham struggled out there in the middle. The duo added 24 runs for the 3rd wicket before the captain Latham fell for 14 off 35 balls with one four to his name to Soumya Sarkar. Muhammad Abbas came out to bat next.
Nick Kelly showed his class and resistance and tried to forge a partnership with Abbas. Abbas played the supporting role in the partnership while Kelly stamped his authority. He was the lone warrior for New Zealand. The duo took New Zealand past the 100-run mark and added 56 runs for the 4th wicket before Abbas fell for 19 off 34 balls with one four to his name to Rana yet again. Dean Foxcroft came out to bat next.
Kelly then forged a nice partnership with Foxcroft. Foxcroft struggled as well as he failed to get a boundary and rotate the strike. Kelly though was being the main contributor and completed his fifty and went beyond as well. The duo added another crucial 37 runs for the 5th wicket before the set batter Kelly fell for 83 off 102 balls with 14 fours to his name to Shoriful Islam. Half the side was gone for 145 in 36.4 overs. Josh Clarkson came out to bat next.
This is where the collapse started after Kelly’s dismissal. The duo of Clarkson and Foxcroft added 7 runs to the tally before Clarkson fell for 6 off 5 balls with one boundary to his name to Rishad Hossain. Nathan Smith came out to bat next. Foxcroft and Smith added 12 runs to the score before Foxcroft fell for 15 off 35 balls to Nahid Rana. Blair Tickner came out to bat next.
Tickner added a few vital runs while Smith tried to do the same. The duo of Tickner and Smith added 18 runs for the 8th wicket before Tickner fell for 12 off 11 balls with 2 fours to his name to Islam. Jayden Lennox came out to bat next. Lennox did not last long as just one run was added to the score before Lennox fell for a fourth ball duck as he was cleaned up by Nahid Rana. William O’Rourke was the last man to walk out for New Zealand.
Nathan Smith added some vital runs while William also stuck it out there as New Zealand got close to 200. The final wicket added 15 runs to the tally before William O’Rourke fell for 6 off 11 balls to Taskin Ahmed. Nathan Smith remained unbeaten on 18 off 23 balls with one four to his name as New Zealand were bowled out for 198 in 48.4 overs. 10 extras given by the fielding side.
Nahid Rana was the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh with figures of 5/32 in 10 overs. Shoriful Islam supported him well with figures of 2/32 in 10 overs. Taskin Ahmed finished with 1/46 in 9.4 overs. Soumya Sarkar finished with 1/27 in 4 overs. Rishad Hossain finished with 1/21 in 5 overs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz the captain finished with 0/38 in 10 overs. So, this meant that Bangladesh needed 199 runs to win off 50 overs to level the series 1-1.
Impressive fifties from Tanzid Hasan & Najmul Hossain Shanto helps Bangladesh level the series 1-1
Chasing 199 for the win, Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan came out to open the batting for Bangladesh while Nathan Smith had the ball in hand for New Zealand. Saif was quick off the blocks hitting two boundaries in the first over off Smith but fell to the same bowler at the end of the first over as Smith cleaned him up for 8 off 6 balls with 2 fours to his name. Soumya Sarkar came out to bat next.
Tanzid Hasan was quickly off the blocks and played some exquisite shots out there while Sarkar managed to hit a maximum. The duo added 13 runs for the second wicket before Sarkar fell for 8 off 11 balls with one six to his name to William O’Rourke. Bangladesh were in a spot of bother at 21/2 in 4 overs when Najmul Hossain Shanto joined Tanzid in the middle.
From here on, it was the Tanzid Hasan show as he dazzled in Mirpur. Shanto was happy to play the role of a second fiddle and with the required rate under control, Shanto was in no hurry. But Tanzid wanted to make a statement as the duo started forging a magnificent partnership. After the first 10 overs of the power play, Bangladesh were flying high at 67/2. The duo carried on batting beyond the power play as well and dominated proceedings not allowing New Zealand a sniff. The partnership turned out to be match-winning as it crossed the 100-run mark.
The duo added a mind blowing 120 runs for the 3rd wicket before Tanzid hit one shot too many and fell for 76 off 58 balls with 10 fours and 4 sixes to his name to Jayden Lennox as the batter missed out on a century. Litton Das came out to bat next. Litton did not last long as the duo added just 13 runs to the score to take Bangladesh past 150 but Litton fell with the score reading 154 as Das fell for 7 off 11 balls with one boundary to his name to Lennox.
Towhid Hridoy came out to bat next. Hridoy started quickly off the blocks. Shanto completed his fifty. The duo added 13 more runs to the tally, before Najmul Hossain Shanto retired hurt with the score reading 167/4 as he walked off injured for 50 off 71 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes to his name. Mehidy Hasan Miraz the captain came out to bat with 32 still needed for the win.
The duo of Hridoy and Miraz ensured there were no hiccups for Bangladesh from hereon. Hridoy went at run a ball while Mehidy was slow and steady in the middle. The duo completed the formalities of getting the required 32 runs and got to the target in 35.3 overs. Hridoy was unbeaten on 30 off 31 balls with 5 fours to his name while Miraz was unbeaten on 8 off 25 balls with one four to his name as Bangladesh finished with 199/4 in 35.3 overs with 12 extras given by the fielding side winning by 6 wickets with 14.3 overs or 87 balls to spare.
For New Zealand, Jayden Lennox was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2/36 in 9 overs. Nathan Smith chipped in with 1/46 in 7 overs. William O’Rourke finished with 1/41 in 7 overs. Blair Tickner finished with 0/35 in 5 overs. Dean Foxcroft finished with 0/26 in 5.3 overs. Josh Clarkson finished with 0/11 in 2 overs. So, Bangladesh win by 6 wickets with 87 balls to spare to level the series 1-1. Nahid Rana was awarded the Player of the Match Award.
What Lies Ahead
So, Bangladesh have levelled the series 1-1 and now sets up a decider in this 3-match ODI series. The 3rd and final ODI is scheduled on Thursday 23rd April, 2026 at 10:30 AM IST live from Chattogram. It’s going to be a winner takes all contest. Let’s see who comes out on top in this contest. It could be anybody’s game.
Also Read: BAN vs NZ: Dean Foxcroft’s All-Round Display Enables New Zealand Go 1-0 Up In Series