The China Mail - Hridoy, Shamim pull off record home chase for Bangladesh against NZ

Bangladesh reached their target of 183 at the Chattogram stadium with two overs to spare to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The win surpassed their previous best home chase of 171 against Ireland in November last year.

Hridoy anchored the innings with an unbeaten 51 off 27 balls, his sixth T20 fifty. Shamim provided a fitting finish with 31 not out off just 13 balls, including three fours and two sixes.

The left-handed Shamim took New Zealand seamer Matthew Fisher apart in the 17th over, plundering 25 runs to enthral the home crowd.

Captain Litton Das scored a brisk 21 off 15 balls before Parvez Hossain Emon smashed 28 off 14 to set the platform for the chase.

For New Zealand, leg-spinner Ish Sodhi took two wickets, while Josh Clarkson and Nathan Smith claimed one each.

Batting first, Katene Clarke and Dane Cleaver gave New Zealand a flying start, despite an early mix-up that saw Tim Robinson run out in the second over after a direct throw from Hridoy.

Clarke and Cleaver responded emphatically, using their fine footwork to take New Zealand to 61 at the end of the powerplay.

They added 88 runs off 50 balls before both fell to leg-spinner Rishad Hossain.

Clarke, who was dropped by Saif Hassan on 44, made 51 off 37 balls, with seven fours and one six, for his first T20 fifty.

Cleaver was the more aggressive of the two, scoring 51 off just 28 balls, with seven fours and a six.

Stand-in captain Nick Kelly contributed 39 off 27, while Clarkson struck an unbeaten 27 off 14.

Rishad was the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers with 2-32.

C.Fong--ThChM