27/12Result
1st T20I (N), Bangladesh tour of New Zealand at Napier, Dec 27 2023
Bangladesh won by 5 wkts (8b rem)
Player of the Match
Mahedi Hasan
Mahedi HasanBangladesh
27/12Result
1st T20I (N), Bangladesh tour of New Zealand at Napier, Dec 27 2023
Bangladesh won by 5 wkts (8b rem)
Player of the Match
Mahedi Hasan
Mahedi HasanBangladesh

10:35pm That brings us to the end of our coverage. There were thrills, spills and plenty of enthralling action. The good thing is these sides will be back at it in a couple of days' time in Mount Maunganui. New Zealand will be hoping to square the series, while Bangladesh will have a shot at history.

Do join us for that too, and in the meantime, you can hop over to the India-South Africa Test, with India having posted 245 in their first innings, or you can jump into more T20 action, with the Brisbane Heat taking on the Sydney Thunder. Until next time, from me, Binoy and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo, it's a goodbye. Take care, folks!

10:30pm And so, Bangladesh get themselves on the board early in this T20I series. Their bowlers set up the game, restricting New Zealand to 134 before their batters did just enough. No standout score apart from Litton's unbeaten 42 but Bangladesh did largely well to not lose wickets in a clump. A solid 40-run partnership (off just 25 balls) at the end between Litton and Mahedi too, and that ensured there were no further hiccups.

As for New Zealand, well, they showed plenty of fight. They kept at it and tried to prize open chances. However, it came back to how many runs they had on the board, and as it turned out, they did not have enough. Southee and Santner were the pick of the bowlers, scalping a wicket apiece and only giving away 16 in their respective four-over spells. Milne and Sears, though, travelled, as did Sodhi, and that allowed Bangladesh to keep releasing the pressure at vital moments.

18.4
4
Milne to Mahedi Hasan, FOUR, Bangladesh do the double over New Zealand in Napier! Their maiden T20I victory against NZ in NZ, and they have been full value for it! Fullish outside off. Mahedi is on the charge again and flays this over mid off. Plugs a little in the outfield but the shot has enough on it to trickle into the fence. What a day for Bangladesh cricket, what a day to be a Bangladesh fan - another exceptional performance, capped off by icing what could have become a tricky run-chase!

Can Bangladesh finish it off this over?

18.3
2
Milne to Mahedi Hasan, 2 runs, dug into the track outside off. Mahedi gets on top of the bounce and hoicks it over mid wicket. Litton hobbles back for the second. Bangladesh need just two more now!
18.2
6
Milne to Mahedi Hasan, SIX, what a shot! Slot ball on middle and off, and Mahedi has pulled off a special, special stroke. Backs away, gets his hands through the ball and caresses it over the deep cover fence!
18.1
0
Milne to Mahedi Hasan, no run, hard length just outside off. Mahedi hops up onto his toes and defends

Milne to bowl the penultimate over

END OF OVER:
18 | 14 Runs | BAN: 125/5 (10 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 6.94, RRR: 5.00)

  • Litton Das41 (36b)
  • Mahedi Hasan7 (12b)
  • Ben Sears4-0-36-1
  • Tim Southee4-0-16-1
17.6
2
Sears to Litton Das, 2 runs, very full at the stumps. Litton gets into position for the lap again and gets it past the keeper for a couple of runs
17.5
1
Sears to Mahedi Hasan, 1 run, extraordinary fielding! Banged into the track on leg stump. Mahedi gets inside the line and heaves it between deep square leg and fine leg. Allen comes flying out of nowhere and pulls it back into play with his right hand. Saves three
17.4
0
Sears to Mahedi Hasan, no run, full outside off. Mahedi drives it straight to Southee at mid off
17.3
1
Sears to Litton Das, 1 run, fullish on off stump. Litton gets onto the front foot and works it towards deep mid wicket

Sears undergoing the full range of emotions - from delight to despair

17.2
6
Sears to Litton Das, SIX, drama at McLean Park! Full at the stumps. Litton shuffles across and nails his scoop. However, he hits it in the general direction of Sodhi at fine leg, who takes the catch but then steps onto the boundary rope. Could he have been a step off the fence and taken it overhead, before doing that juggling act fielders always do? Well, lots of conjecture but what matters is it is six, and Bangladesh need just 14 now!

20 off 17 now

17.1
4
Sears to Litton Das, FOUR, starts the over with a boundary! In the slot outside off. Litton plants his front foot, swings through the line and bashes it past the diving Southee at mid off!

Right. 24 needed off 18. Five wickets in hand. Who are you backing? Sodhi or Neesham will have to bowl at least one over between them. Sears has one left, as does Milne. Sears to bowl the 18th. Litton is good to go

Litton is stretching out his right leg, with the physio in close attendance. Might be a hamstring issue

END OF OVER:
17 | 4 Runs | BAN: 111/5 (24 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 6.52, RRR: 8.00)

  • Mahedi Hasan6 (10b)
  • Litton Das28 (32b)
  • Tim Southee4-0-16-1
  • Adam Milne3-0-26-1
16.6
0
Southee to Mahedi Hasan, no run, back of a length outside off. Bounces a little more than Mahedi expects and trickles off the shoulder of the bat towards backward point

Litton wants a change of gloves between overs

16.5
2
Southee to Mahedi Hasan, 2 runs, chaos out in the middle! Back of a length on off stump. Mahedi bunts it to short mid wicket and Litton calls him through. The latter has to put in the dive to make it and would have been gone with a direct hit. In the end, Bangladesh get a second off an overthrow too
16.4
1
Southee to Litton Das, 1 run, back of a length outside off. Litton uses the pace and runs it down to third man
16.3
1lb
Southee to Mahedi Hasan, 1 leg bye, shortish on leg stump. Hurries onto Mahedi as he helps it off the thigh pad towards fine leg

Bangladesh 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st13Rony TalukdarLitton Das
2nd25Litton DasNajmul Hossain Shanto
3rd29Soumya SarkarLitton Das
4th29Litton DasTowhid Hridoy
5th1Litton DasAfif Hossain
6th40Litton DasMahedi Hasan