Bangladesh vs New Zealand Highlights: BAN take early T20I series lead with six-wicket win over NZ

As the match concludes, that’s a wrap from our side. We thank you for tuning in to the live blog for the Bangladesh vs New Zealand 1st T20I and staying with us. Do join us for the second T20I between BAN and NZ.

Tawhid Hridoy has been announced as the Player of the Match for his tremendous effort in the game. A sensational run-out effort and then delivering a brilliant 51* off 27 helped Bangladesh chase down the score.

Hridoy maintained an 18.88 strike rate and also struck two fours and three sixes in the first T20I vs NZ.

Bangladesh delivered a game-changing performance. Solid outing to turn things around after they picked up a sluggish start against NZ.

When pressure felt like pain, Towhid wore it like jewellery. A well-deserved half-century for him.

Bangladesh won the first T20I by six wickets and 12 balls to spare. Brilliant partnership from Towhid and Shamim as they changed the narrative by making it look so easy.

A COMMANDING PERFORMANCE from the Bangla Tigers.

Shamim now goes into the attack, and the crowd is up and about! A brilliant flick for a boundary to start the over, and two singles conceded in the next two deliveries.

BAN are now keeping it safe, avoiding risky running now. But Shamin just struck a boundary! Simply Superb.

A free hit as well, and a boundary follows it up. Shamim ends with a monstrous six.

Bangladesh are getting desperate at this stage and is racing to pick singles. Shamim narrowly saved himself with a dive at the bowler’s end.

OH HELLO! That’s a ridiculous no-look shot from Shamim!! Absolutely outrageous and full marks to Shamim for the six. What New Zealand now need is a wicket.

A single in the penultimate delivery, and Towhid hammered the delivery into the stands to cap off the brilliant over. 18 conceded.

Emon smashes a massive six into the stands, and the cheers get louder than ever. He smashed it high over wide long. Two singles were conceded after that.

But Emon got a bit carried away and lost his wicket at a crucial juncture. A catch comfortably taken at long-off, and Clarkson brings the breakthrough, ending the batter’s cameo. BAN 134/4 (14.5)

Ish Sodhi was brought back as Bangladesh tries to put the pressure back on NZ. Three singles conceded, as BAN batters focus on running between wickets. A dot in the fourth delivery.

Just six conceded in the 14th over as both sides try to seize the momentum.

Great fielding from NZ’s Sodhi by avoiding a boundary near the ropes. Three runs were picked up by Emon on the first delivery, and a single in the next delivery.

A BAN player gets hurt as Emon gets crammed on his left heel by Fisher’s lethal yorker. The ball deflects off his pads, but it’s outside his leg. Towhid tried to sneak a single but couldn’t. There’s a break in play as physios come out to check on him, and he is good to go.

After a single, Towhid gets into attack with a boundary and a double in the final two deliveries of the over.

Clarkson starts with a wide and then concedes a single, with Towhid hitting it to cover. Another single in the next delivery.

Hridoy is now starting to attack after smashing a six straight down the ground. A double was conceded in the delivery after that. Some great shots from Towhid right there during the chase.

Full toss on the final delivery, and a mix-up on both sides. 13 runs conceded.

Tanzid’s knock ends as he tries to go big but holes out at long off. He tried to whack it in that direction but didn’t connect well, and Smith rushed to his right to pick up a great catch. NZ 77/3 (10.1)

Bangladesh is running hard between wickets with a single to open the over. Two doubles after that. Tight fielding from NZ has helped them gain a hold of the game.

Two singles in the fourth and penultimate deliveries, with BAN trying hard to get a breather. And a boundary to cap off the over.

We are halfway through the innings now.

Captain Litton Das smacks two boundaries and trying to attack. A great attempt in terms of fielding from NZ as well.

And THAT’s THAT! Skipper Litton Das is dismissed, and Ish Sodhi has the last laugh. You miss, I hit scenario as the Kiwi bowler dislodges the middle stump. NZ 66/2 (8.5)

Clarkson comes in to bowl, and Litton tries the aerial route in the first delivery but couldn’t connect well.

Jusst five runs conceded in the eighth over.

Litton Das walks in and is off the mark on the first delivery he faces. Power-play done and dusted, and Ish Sodhi on the attack. Two dots after, Litton smashes a slog sweep for a six to deep mid-wicket.

Huge appeal from Ish Sodhi in the next ball, but the umpire is unmoved, and he takes it upstairs. Ball tracking shows the umpire’s call in impact and wickets, and Saif is safe. Seven conceded.

Saif Hassan dismissed for 17! Right on time for NZ as they secure a breakthrough. Saif tried to send it down the ground but only connects with the bat’s inner part of the bat, and Jacobs completed the catch at deep mid-wicket. NZ 41/1 (5.3)

Careful striding by Tanzid and Saif as they focus on getting singles. There is lack of aggressive intent, not a rollicking one, but a steady start.

A 4 byes picked up, 8 runs conceded in the over.

Careful striding by Tanzid and Saif as they focus on getting singles. There is lack of aggressive intent, not a rollicking one, but a steady start.

A 4 byes picked up, 8 runs conceded in the over.

Some good running between wickets as Tanzid gets two doubles in the first two balls of the over. A leg bye in the next, and a double conceded again, with the ball landing safely.

A huge swing and a miss on the final delivery of the over, but it’s a wide. Fisher has to bowl it again, and it’s a six!

Tanzid charges, but misses Lister’s delivery on the first delivery. A double was conceded in the second, and good fielding from NZ as the fielder stopped the ball in time.

Consecutive dots in the following two deliveries, BAN batters are trying to find the gap there.

Fisher starts with three consecutive dots, but Saif smacks a nice boundary right into the gap towards the deep backward point.

There’s an appeal from NZ, but the umpire remains unmoved. Kelly did not take a review either. Just four conceded in the over.

Openers Tanzid Hasan and Saif Hassan start things off decently, with a lovely boundary from Saif in the second delivery. Smith concedes two wides and a single.

A chance in the deep put down, Tanzid survives as the ball races for a boundary. The ball bounces out of Sodhi’s hands. 11 Overs conceded.

Mondol, in the final over, starts with a dot ball as it is a wild swing and a miss from Clarkson. A single conceded in the second as the delivery is pitched up in stumps, but Clarkson shovels it.

A leg bye in the third delivery, and BAN have tightened their fielding now by restricting any boundaries to NZ. There’s a DROP in the penultimate delivery as the fielder failed to hold on to the ball as it pops out!

New Zealand scored 182/6 in 20 overs, a gritty outing despite being under pressure.

Josh Clarkson is trying to fight back with some hard-hitting against Tanzim as he smashes a solid six in the third delivery. Singles conceded in the first two balls.

Clarkson continues anchoring the innings as 14 runs are conceded in the 19th over.

Shoriful is in his final over of his spell, and Kelly is trying to be cheeky there with a scoop attempt! Islam bowled the third delivery pretty wide.

Kelly finally connects with the reverse scoop which sails towards the ropes for a boundary. Excellent shot from the NZ skipper.

But not for Long! Kelly loses his wicket after scoring 39, and that is the wicket that BAN needed. NZ 162/6 (17.5)

The floodlights are back in action, and play has resumed in Chattogram.

Kelly gets cheeky with the reverse sweep on the first delivery, and the result is a boundary.

He then smashed the ball towards deep mid-wicket, and it sailed over the boundary ropes for a six. Around the wicket, Mondol then delivers a dot in the third ball, bowling just in line to avoid a wide.

And there’s some halt in play due to the weather, perhaps, as the umpires chat with the batters, and they are going off. Oh! Some of the floodlights have suddenly gone out!

Ideal time to get things moving as Kelly nails the reverse sweep for a sweet boundary. Lovely shot.

Lapses in the field from BAN, as well as a couple of close calls, were missed. Bowlers are doing their best to keep the game tight as NZ scramble for runs.

A boundary to cap off the over, but pressure is still on NZ.

Pressure was building on Foxcroft, and Mahedi pounced on it. A brilliant over so far, and a wicket adds up to NZ’s troubles as they are now five down.

The delivery brushed off Foxcroft’s thigh and crashed onto the off-stump. BAN have done really well in the past five overs. NZ 130/5 (15 Overs)

Foxcroft opens the over with a single over the wicket, Kelly manages to bag a double. The captain is gradually attacking as he finds the gap with brilliant timing and scores a boundary.

Nine runs conceded in the over.

Kelly opens with a firm boundary at long-off, spotting it early and shimmies down the slower ball delivery.

Jacobs was unlucky out there as he handed the ball straight to the fielder! Trouble in Paradise? Caught by Rishad in the deep, NZ endures a hiccup. NZ 117/4 (12.3)