During the chase of the 134-run target set by the Kiwis, opener Rony Talukdar and captain Shanto fell in their pursuit for quick runs. Talukdar’s brief innings ended with a 7-ball 10, while Shanto contributed 19 runs from 14 balls before being dismissed.

Both batters fell victim to their ambitious shots, with Rony being caught off Adam Milne’s delivery and Shanto caught out by James Neesham.

At the outset, Bangladesh swiftly secured three wickets within the initial nine deliveries. Mahedi Hasan and Shoriful Islam made immediate impacts, reducing New Zealand to a precarious three for one.

Mahedi dismantled Tim Seifert’s stumps with a delivery that showcased some turn, marking a quick breakthrough in the very first over.

Following this, Shoriful struck twice in a defining moment. He induced an edge from Fin Allen, claimed by Soumya Sarkar at first slip, and dismissed Glenn Phillips, trapped in front while opting to leave the ball on the subsequent delivery.

Mahedi returned to dismiss the dangerous Daryll Mitchell, who managed a brisk 14 runs, bowled in a similar fashion to Seifert. This left the Kiwis struggling at 36 for four after six overs.

Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain broke the 30-run partnership between Mark Chapman and James Neesham by removing Chapman for 19, caught by Tanjim Hasan Sakib in deep cover point.

Neesham and skipper Mitchell Santner then forged a crucial 41-run partnership to stabilize the collapse. Shoriful secured his third wicket by dismissing Santner (23), taken by Soumya for his second catch of the match.

Neesham persevered, but his 48-run innings concluded with a mistimed wide yorker from Mustafizur Rahman, turning into a full toss outside off and caught at deep cover point.

Shoriful concluded with figures of 3-26, while Mustafizur contributed with 2-15. Mahedi claimed two for 14 before finishing his spell early, and Rishad Hossain secured a solitary wicket.

Debutant pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib was slightly expensive, conceding 45 runs in his four overs but managed to secure a wicket.

This victory marked Bangladesh’s maiden ODI win against the Black Caps on New Zealand soil after facing defeat in the previous 18 encounters dating back to 1990. Shanto expressed immense pride in the team’s performance, attributing the win to their collective improvements.

“I’m really proud of the team’s effort in this match,” he stated. “Before the series, we had a strong belief in our capability to win. In the previous games, we showcased good cricket but fell short. Today, the team’s performance was exceptional, and it paid off with this result.”

Shanto’s strategic decision to bowl first on a lush, bouncy surface paid dividends, as the seamers capitalized on the conditions. Three bowlers clinched three wickets each, with Tanzim Hasan Sakib (3-14) and Soumya Sarkar (3-18) securing their career-best figures. Shoriful Islam’s 3-22 included the crucial dismissal of top-scorer Will Young for 26, caught in the gully.

Reflecting on his approach, Sakib highlighted his simple tactics. “I focused on maintaining a disciplined line and length. The pitch conditions worked in my favor, aiding my performance significantly.”

While Tom Latham (21) and Young stitched a brief partnership of 36 runs, Latham’s dismissal triggered a collapse, resulting in the last eight wickets tumbling for a mere 40 runs, mainly due to errant shots from the New Zealand batsmen.

Although an early hiccup emerged in Bangladesh’s chase when Sarkar retired hurt at four due to an eye issue, loose bowling from New Zealand eased their path. Shanto’s impressive 51 not out and a 69-run partnership with opener Anamul Haque guided the team home, with Haque being the lone dismissal, edging William O’Rourke on 37.

Latham acknowledged the below-par performance from his team and credited Bangladesh’s adeptness in utilizing the pitch conditions. “It was a disappointing performance. Bangladesh adapted well to the conditions and bowled effectively. We failed to build pressure and couldn’t counter them,” he lamented.

Both teams now prepare for a three-match T20 international series, commencing in Napier on Wednesday.

During his exceptional innings, Sarkar amassed 169 runs off 151 balls at a striking rate of 111.92, lacing his performance with 22 boundaries and 2 sixes against the Kiwi bowling unit.

His outstanding knock surpassed Tendulkar’s milestone for the highest runs scored in ODIs by a player from the sub-continent in New Zealand, a record set by the ‘Master Blaster’ with an unbeaten 163-run innings against New Zealand in Christchurch back in 2009. Additionally, Sarkar’s innings marked the highest individual score by a Bangladeshi cricketer in an away ground in ODIs.

In this match, New Zealand chose to field first after winning the toss at Saxton Oval. While Sarkar showcased brilliance with his 169-run contribution, his teammates struggled to make significant impacts, with no other player crossing the 50-run mark. Wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim’s 45 runs from 57 balls added substance to the middle order, aiding Bangladesh to post a total of 291 runs.

In response, New Zealand required 292 runs in 50 overs to secure their second consecutive victory in the three-match ODI series.

Mashrafe, however, counterbalances this with a different perspective shared via a Facebook post, injecting an element of enigma into the ongoing narrative. In his interpretation, Tamim wasn’t excluded but rather made a conscious choice not to be part of the squad. Mashrafe accentuated the significance of distinguishing between a player being left out and a player willingly opting out of the team.

Commencing his post with the intriguing phrase,

“Each person may provide a shard of misinformation,” made it clear that Tamim’s absence was his choice and not the result of any outside influence.

In addition, he emphasized treating Tamim with dignity while understanding the mystery surrounding his reasons for resigning.

Mashrafe highlighted that,

” Tamim is the only one who can unlock the mystery surrounding this confusing issue, leaving cricketing fans creating anticipation for any updates that may surface in the coming days.”

Mahmudullah, known for his resolute right-handed batting style, reached the illustrious 5,000 runs milestone during the 16th over of the match. With precision and determination, he expertly maneuvered a single off the bowling of Lockie Ferguson, solidifying his place in Bangladesh’s cricketing history.

Joining an elite club of Bangladeshi cricket legends, Mahmudullah stands shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, and Mushfiqur Rahim, all of whom had previously achieved this remarkable milestone.

However, Liton refrained from prescribing specific roles for Riyad and Soumya, emphasizing that the key objective for both players is to score runs whenever the opportunity arises. “I do not want to talk about roles as it would depend on the situation. If we lose wickets early, and then Riyad bhai arrives at the crease with around 30-35 overs left, then he will play like he always does. I don’t really need to specify how he needs to play, as he is mature enough to know the role. The same goes for Soumya. Whichever position they get the chance, they will try to score runs. It is not just about them; every batter’s responsibility is to score runs,” Liton affirmed.