The Black Caps have been beaten in Bangladesh, losing the three-match ODI series 2-1 after a comprehensive 55-run defeat in the decider at Chattogram on Thursday. A century from captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and a devastating five-wicket haul from Mustafizur Rahman were the defining moments as Bangladesh proved too strong for New Zealand in sweltering conditions.
New Zealand had won the opening match of the series by 26 runs, but Bangladesh struck back in the second ODI with a six-wicket victory and carried that momentum into the decider. The series loss ends a challenging tour for Tom Latham’s side, who will now face Bangladesh in a T20 series before returning home.
Bangladesh were put in to bat after Latham won the toss and chose to bowl first at Chattogram’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. It looked like the right call when New Zealand’s bowlers reduced the hosts to 32 for three, with Will O’Rourke the pick of the attack with figures of 3 for 32 that troubled the Bangladesh top order. But from that difficult position, Shanto and Litton Das forged a match-winning fourth-wicket partnership that dismantled New Zealand’s plans entirely.
The pair added 160 runs together, steadily rebuilding Bangladesh’s innings as the temperature climbed towards 34 degrees in the sticky Chattogram heat. Litton Das was the more aggressive of the two, scoring a fluent 76 before he was dismissed, while Shanto played with patience and resolve to reach his century. The Bangladesh captain eventually scored 105, a knock that provided the foundation his team needed. Lower-order contributions from Towhid Hridoy (33) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (22) pushed the total to 265 for eight from their 50 overs.
Shanto was generous in his praise for his batting partner after the match. “The way Litton played, really outstanding,” he said. “He held one side and I tried to score some runs. It wasn’t an easy wicket to bat on.”
For New Zealand, O’Rourke’s three wickets gave them some early encouragement, but the partnership between Shanto and Litton Das proved too much to contain. Jayden Lennox (2 for 50) and Ben Lister (2 for 62) also chipped in with wickets, but Bangladesh’s ability to rebuild and find runs through the middle order made the difference.
Chasing 266, New Zealand found themselves in a familiar position of needing to build partnerships but failing to do so consistently. Nick Kelly offered some resistance with a determined 59, and Dean Foxcroft lit up the lower order with a counterattacking 75 that included seven sixes and kept New Zealand’s hopes alive deep into the innings. But the wickets fell too regularly at the other end, and Mustafizur Rahman was the man who ensured there would be no miracle finish.
Mustafizur finished with figures of 5 for 43, one of the most influential bowling performances of the series. The experienced left-arm seamer used the conditions intelligently, extracting movement and unsettling the middle order just when New Zealand needed to be building a platform. He was named Player of the Match for his efforts. As RNZ reported, it was a performance that underlined why Mustafizur remains one of the most dangerous white-ball bowlers in the subcontinent.
New Zealand were eventually dismissed for 210 in 44.5 overs, falling 55 runs short. Latham acknowledged afterwards that his batters had not done enough when it mattered most. “As a batting unit, we weren’t able to build partnerships,” he said. “We were happy with the target to achieve but lack of partnerships made it difficult.”
It was a fitting end to a series that saw several standout individual performances from the home side. Fast bowler Nahid Rana was named Player of the Series after claiming eight wickets across the three matches. Having put New Zealand’s batting on notice throughout the tour with his pace and awkward bounce, Rana confirmed himself as one of Bangladesh cricket’s most exciting young talents.
Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz was proud of the way his team handled the conditions and the pressure of a series decider. “It wasn’t easy,” he said. “Boys bowled really well. We knew the conditions, that it would spin and fast bowling would have uneven bounce.”
The victory gives Bangladesh their third consecutive ODI series win, following successes against the West Indies and Pakistan. The team is building genuine momentum in the 50-over format, and this series against New Zealand will only add to that confidence heading into a busy international schedule. Flashscore has the full scorecard and series statistics for those wanting a deeper look at the numbers.
For the Black Caps, the tour highlights the ongoing challenge of performing in subcontinental conditions. New Zealand took the first ODI convincingly, showing what they are capable of when the batting unit fires and the bowlers maintain their discipline. The problem is the inconsistency. Bangladesh’s ability to absorb pressure in the second and third matches, combined with Mustafizur’s clinical spell in the final chase, exposed a fragility in New Zealand’s batting lineup that will require attention.
The two teams now shift to the T20 format, with Bangladesh having named their squad for the opening matches. New Zealand will be looking to respond after a deflating end to the ODI leg of the tour, and the shorter format offers a chance to reset. Whether the batting issues identified across this series can be quickly addressed will be the central question as the tour continues. The Black Caps have the talent to respond, but they will need their middle order to show far more resilience than it managed in Chattogram on Thursday.
What do you think of the Black Caps’ performance in Bangladesh? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
This article was written by AI, briefed to report the facts, hopefully without some of the bias people bring to the job 🙂
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