New Zealand vs Bangladesh, 1st T20I - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Series: Bangladesh tour of New Zealand, 2021 Venue: Seddon Park, Hamilton Date & Time: Mar 28, 02:00 PM LOCAL

Conway and Young put on 105 for the third wicket. © Getty

Game, set and 1-0 for New Zealand

Bangladesh are still searching for their first win on this tour. They've fallen well short by 66 runs. Another forgettable batting performance, to lose 4 for 8 runs from those two Sodhi overs pretty much sealed the game. They'll look at some positives - debutant Nasum Ahmed was good. Afif Hossain didn't give up with the bat either.

As for New Zealand, a near perfect day in the office capped off by a stunning catch from Martin Guptill running backwards. Devon Conway continues to live on the purple patch. Will Young showed his class on debut. Ish Sodhi has 20 wickets in the summer and Lockie has lost none of his zing with that stress fracture!

Lockie removes Afif...

but not before the left-hander has played a lovely innings of 45 from 33. It adds some semblance of respectability to Bangladesh's sorry show. The highlight of his knock is a straight hit over long-off off Ferguson and Afif holds his pose. The next ball expectedly pacy and on the stumps, Afif is looking to play a lap over short third man. Misses and loses his leg stump.

Afif shows some spunk

Races to 25 off 16 with a couple of fours and a six. His little cameo means Ish Sodhi doesn't finish with a fifer or his career-best figures. 4/28 for the leggie today!

Make it 4 for 8 from 2 overs for Sodhi

20 wickets in the summer for Ish Sodhi now courtesy two chop ons. Mahmudullah goes for a cut and inside edges one. Next ball Mahedi Hasan is not strong in his defence and the ball rolls back to dislodge the bails. In tatters, Bangladesh 59/6!

Sodhi hadn't gotten a batsman bowled in T20 internationals since September 2019. He's got three in this one

0 0

The Bond hand in Milne's return

It's been three years we last saw Adam Milne don the Black Caps kit. Injuries have ravaged him but after two surgeries on his ankle, he's forged his way back into reckoning through the BBL. He's also got a contract with the Mumbai Indians for the upcoming IPL.

This is him talking about the Shane Bond hand in his return.

Prelude - 1st T20I

We're on the road to the T20 World Cup. The big tournament in India is just six months away and every game is a chance to fine-tune and an opportunity to narrow down the 15 that'll make you the squad for the big event.

The start of this three match series at beautiful Seddon Park is particular crucial for Bangladesh, who haven't played this format in over an year and come to this one on the back of a 0-3 routing in the ODIs.

Their individual games though are likely to be in order having recently played at the Bangabandhu T20 Cup post the Covid19 break. Mahmudullah won't have the services of Shakib Al Hasan or Tamil Iqbal here but younger and fresher players may just provide for a spark to a team that dearly needs it.

New Zealand too have several new faces and some returning ones even as they've allowed their A-listers like Williamson and Boult family time and NOCs to play in the IPL. Many eager to impress players on show should make it for a good series .

Grab yourself a beverage and get up to speed with the match preview as we build up to the Toss !