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- BAN vs NZ Highlights, 1st T20I: Towhid Hridoy's 27-ball 51 powers Bangladesh to a six-wicket win over New Zealand
BAN vs NZ Highlights, 1st T20I: Towhid Hridoy's 27-ball 51 powers Bangladesh to a six-wicket win over New Zealand
The start, however, was far from ideal. Bangladesh had a subdued powerplay and lost Saif Hassan early, while Tanzid Hasan struggled to time the ball. Litton Das looked promising but couldn’t capitalise on his start, leaving Bangladesh needing a strong middle-phase recovery. That came through Towhid Hridoy and Emon, who combined aggression with smart shot selection. Their partnership brought momentum back, with both batters finding boundaries consistently and unsettling the Kiwi attack.
Although Emon fell after a brisk cameo, Shamim Hossain ensured there was no let-up. Taking advantage of erratic bowling from New Zealand’s relatively inexperienced seamers, Shamim attacked from the outset and kept the required rate firmly in check. Hridoy, meanwhile, played the anchor’s role to perfection, pacing his innings beautifully en route to a match-winning fifty.
New Zealand skipper Nick Kelly felt his side had a competitive total and even sensed control midway through the chase, but admitted they failed to sustain pressure after key breakthroughs. Hridoy praised Shamim’s impact, while Litton noted that batting wasn’t straightforward due to variable bounce, making the fluent chase even more impressive.
Rishad Hossain to Nick Kelly, Fuller around middle and off, Nick Kelly gives it a charge down the ground and swings at it. Miscues this off the cue end and that's what has saved him as the ball drops in front of deep mid-wicket. One run taken.
Rishad Hossain to Katene Clarke, Quicker one, following the batter to his leg, KC punches this down to long off for one.
- Katene Clarke 50 (34)
- Nick Kelly 3 (3)
Mahedi Hasan to Katene Clarke, MAIDEN T20I FIFTY FOR CLARKE! Fuller around off, Katene Clarke goes deep inside the crease and tucks this through mid-wicket for one to bring up his 50.
Mahedi Hasan to Katene Clarke, Quicker one, around off, Katene Clarke cuts this to point for no run.
Mahedi Hasan to Nick Kelly, Full and into the batter, Nick Kelly tucks this through mid-wicket for one.
Mahedi Hasan to Katene Clarke, LEG BYE! Tossed up, outside off, Katene Clarke steps across and goes for a sweep but misses and gets it away of his pads to square leg for a leg bye.
Mahedi Hasan to Katene Clarke, FOUR! Just as we thought that Bangladesh was getting back into the contest with a good spell of bowling, Katene Clarke innovates with a reverse sweep and finds the fence towards the third man region for four.
Bangladesh are slowing getting things tightened here.
Mahedi Hasan to Nick Kelly, Fuller around off, Nick Kelly punches this through covers for one.
- Katene Clarke 45 (30)
- Nick Kelly 1 (1)
Rishad Hossain to Katene Clarke, Top-spinner, around off, Katene Clarke looks to cut this off his back foot but gets beaten.
Rishad Hossain to Nick Kelly, Tossed up, around off, Nick Kelly flicks this down to long on for a single.
DRINKS! It has been an amazing start with the bat for the visitors despite the dismissal of Tim Robinson early on. Dane Cleaver was going good gund before being dismissed on 51, whereas Katene Clarke is still out in the middle and nearing his landmark as well. Bangladesh would be looking to stem the flow of runs and picking wickets is the best way to do that. Nick Kelly walks out next to bat.
Rishad Hossain to Dane Cleaver, OUT! LBW! Rishad Hossain removes the half-centurion. Quicker one, googly on off, Dane Cleaver misreads it and plays this for a leggie as he looks to reverse ramp it. Gets beaten and is rapped on the pads. A loud appeal by the bowling side and the umpire raises his finger. Dane departs after a good hand of 51 off 28 balls.
Rishad Hossain to Dane Cleaver, FOUR! FIFTY FOR DANE! Tossed up, around off, Dane Cleaver stays leg side to the pitch of the ball and lofts this over the fielder at extra cover for a boundary to bring up his half-century.
Rishad Hossain to Dane Cleaver, FOUR! Fuller around off, Dane Cleaver plays the reverse sweep and hits this fine to the right of backward point and the ball has raced to the fence for four.
Rishad Hossain to Katene Clarke, DROPPED! Katene Clarke gets a life on 44 as Saif Hassan drops him. Tossed up, around middle and off, Katene Clarke sweeps this but doesn't time this well and ends up hitting around Saif Hassan at deep square leg. Saif misreads the flight of it and grasses this. A single taken.
- Dane Cleaver 43 (25)
- Katene Clarke 44 (28)
Ripon Mondol to Dane Cleaver, FOUR! 90 for 1 after 9 overs are NZ. Good length, on middle and leg, Dane Cleaver steps inside the line and flicks this in the gap towards the cow corner region for a boundary to close the over.
Ripon Mondol to Dane Cleaver, Pitched up, arond middle and off, Dane Cleaver flicks this towards the left of the field at deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.
Ripon Mondol to Dane Cleaver, Yorker, on off, Dane Cleaver jams this out.
Ripon Mondol to Katene Clarke, ood length, on off, Katene Clarke guides this to the fielder at the deep third region for a single.
Ripon Mondol to Katene Clarke, On a length, around off, Katene Clarke shimmies down the track and rolls this straight to covers for no run.
Ripon Mondol to Dane Cleaver, Hard length, around off, Dane Cleaver punches this through point for one.
- Dane Cleaver 36 (21)
- Katene Clarke 43 (26)
Rishad Hossain to Dane Cleaver, Full and on off, Dane Cleaver pushes this towards cover-point for a single.
Rishad Hossain to Katene Clarke, Quicker one, around middle and leg, Katene Clarke jumps down the track and looks to work this towards wide long on but gets an inside edge that rolls onto his pads and goes back towards the right of the keeper. Litton Das fails to gather this and this chance goes begging.
Rishad Hossain to Dane Cleaver, Fuller around off, Dane Cleaver punches this in the gap down the ground for one.
Rishad Hossain to Dane Cleaver, Fuller wide of off, Dane Cleaver goes for a reverse sweep but fails to connect bat on ball. Das gathers this behind the stumps and removes the bails in a flash. This is sent upstairs for a stumping check. The back foot of Dane did drag out for a moment but he dragged it back inside just in time.
Rishad Hossain to Katene Clarke, Full and straight into the line of the stumps. Katene Clarke drives this down to long off for a single.
Rishad Hossain to Katene Clarke, FOUR! Flighted around off, Katene Clarke throws his hands at it. Gets it sliced through the gap between short third and backward point for a boundary.
- Katene Clarke 37 (23)
- Dane Cleaver 34 (18)
Mahedi Hasan to Katene Clarke, A bit flat and around off. Katene Clarke gets on his knee and paddles it to deep square leg for a single.
Mahedi Hasan to Katene Clarke, Slower in the air, full and on middle. Katene Clarke punches it to cover.
Mahedi Hasan to Katene Clarke, SIX! Off the middle for a six. Tosses it up, fuller and on leg. Katene Clarke dances down the track and heaves it over mid-wicket for a biggie. First six for Clarke.
Mahedi Hasan to Katene Clarke, FOUR! Fine shot. Quicker, fuller and on middle. Cleaver sweeps and underedges it well past short fine leg for a boundary.
Mahedi Hasan to Dane Cleaver, Too full and on middle and leg. Cleaver tucks it to deep square leg for a single.
Mahedi Hasan to Katene Clarke, Looped up, touch fuller and on middle. Katene Clarke top edges his sweep shot and it lands in front of deep square leg for one.
Good powerplay for New Zealand. 61/1 in the six overs. Bangladesh have been sloppy in the field and with the ball so far.
- Katene Clarke 25 (18)
- Dane Cleaver 33 (17)
Shoriful Islam to Katene Clarke, Serves it full and on middle and leg. Katene Clarke helps it away to fine leg for a single.
Shoriful Islam to Katene Clarke, FOUR! Should have been stopped! Back of a length on middle. Katene Clarke pulls it to deep mid-wicket. The fielder runs to his left but fumbles to pick it up cleanly and it rolls through into the fence.
Shoriful Islam to Dane Cleaver, Pushes it full and on middle. Cleaver drills it down to mid on for a single.
Shoriful Islam to Katene Clarke, Length ball, outside off. Katene Clarke cuts it through point for a single.
Shoriful Islam to Dane Cleaver, This is full and on middle and leg. Cleaver dances down the track and tucks it away to mid-wicket for a run.
Shoriful Islam to Dane Cleaver, FOUR! Just like the previous six. Short of a good length, around off. Cleaver steps across, pre-meditates and paddles it over short fine leg for a boundary.
- Dane Cleaver 27 (14)
- Katene Clarke 19 (15)
Mahedi Hasan to Dane Cleaver, Too full and on middle and leg. Cleaver flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Mahedi Hasan to Katene Clarke, Floated full and on leg. Katene Clarke sweeps it to the left of short fine leg for a single.
Mahedi Hasan to Katene Clarke, Flatter delivery, skidding a bit on leg. Katene Clarke goes on the back foot to flick but misses and gets hit on the pads. A huge appeal for LBW but turned down. Bangladesh take the review. UltraEdge shows no bat. Ball Tracking shows it clips the outside half of the leg pole. Umpire's call it is.
Mahedi Hasan to Katene Clarke, FOUR! Hit away. Looped up, full and drifting on leg. Katene Clarke steps across the line and paddles it to deep square leg for a boundary.
Mahedi Hasan to Dane Cleaver, Tossed up on middle. Cleaver nudges it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Mahedi Hasan to Katene Clarke, Mahedi Hasan begins with a fuller delivery on middle. Katene Clarke clips it to square leg for a single. Slight hesitation for the run but they take it. There is a quick run out appeal, but Cleaver is in.
- Katene Clarke 13 (11)
- Dane Cleaver 25 (12)
Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Katene Clarke, Short of a length, just outside off. Katene Clarke punches it to cover for a run.
Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Dane Cleaver, Angles in a length ball on the pads. Cleaver flicks it wide of mid-wicket for a single. Parvez Hossain Emon has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. Katene Clarke had given up on making it into his crease at the non-stiker's end as he was a long way down while backing up.
Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Dane Cleaver, Good length delivery, around off. Cleaver taps it in front of cover.
The chase began cautiously, with Bangladesh managing a quiet powerplay and losing Saif Hassan early. Tanzid Hasan struggled to find rhythm, while Litton Das showed flashes of intent with a few boundaries but failed to convert his start. However, the game turned with the arrival of Towhid Hridoy and Emon, who stitched together a fluent partnership. Their aggressive strokeplay, marked by regular boundaries, shifted the pressure back on New Zealand. Emon’s quickfire cameo ended against the run of play, but he had already laid a solid platform.
Shamim Hossain then carried forward the momentum with an attacking approach, exposing the inexperience of the Kiwi seamers, who faltered under pressure. Hridoy remained composed throughout, anchoring the chase with a superb half-century and guiding Bangladesh home comfortably.
New Zealand captain Nick Kelly admitted that 180 felt competitive but conceded that his side lost control after the 10th over. Hridoy, named Player of the Match, credited his partners, while Litton highlighted the difficulty of batting on a two-paced wicket.
Match Statistics
Venue
Bir Shrestho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium, Chattogram
