In a thrilling turn at Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, Nahid Rana’s five-wicket masterclass left New Zealand reeling at 198 all out in the second ODI against Bangladesh. The match, part of a crucial series, saw the visitors win the toss and bat, only to fold in 48.4 overs under relentless Bangladeshi pressure.
The innings started disastrously. Openers Henry Nicholls (13 off 26) and Will Young (2) fell cheaply to Rana’s probing lengths. Skipper Tom Latham’s struggles persisted, out for 14 off 35 deliveries, leaving the scoreboard reading poorly.
Nick Kelly emerged as the lone warrior, battling to 83 from 102 balls, adorned with 14 boundaries. He partnered with Mohammad Abbas for 56 runs, but Abbas’ 19 off 34 ended abruptly. Dean Foxcroft (15), Nathan Smith (18*) and Blair Tickner (12) couldn’t build further, as Rana’s spell dismantled the lower order.
Rana’s figures of 5/32 from 10 overs were spellbinding, his variations proving too much. Shoriful Islam grabbed 2/32, while Soumya Sarkar and Rishad Hossain picked up one apiece. Bangladesh’s bowlers exploited conditions masterfully, turning the game on its head.
Playing XIs:
New Zealand – Nicholls, Kelly, Young, Latham (wk), Abbas, Foxcroft, Clarkson, Smith, Tickner, Lennox, O’Rourke.
Bangladesh – Saif Hassan, Tanjheed Tamim, Shanto, Litton Das (wk), Hridoy, Sarkar, Miraz (c), Rishad, Shoriful, Taskin, Rana.
As Bangladesh gear up to chase 199, Rana’s ‘panga’ has ignited hopes of a series revival. This performance cements his rising stardom in white-ball cricket.
