Dhaka: Pace sensation Nahid Rana took 5-32 to lead Bangladesh to a comfortable six-wicket win over New Zealand in the second one-day international and level the three-match series at 1-1 on Monday.
Rana registered his second five-wicket ODI haul as Bangladesh bundled out New Zealand for 198, a total they overhauled with 14.3 overs to spare in Dhaka. Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim, who top-scored with 76, and Najmul Hossain Shanto, retired hurt on 50, steered the hosts to 199-4 in 35.3 overs, setting up a series decider on Thursday in Chattogram.
Bangladesh suffered early blows with opener Saif Hassan and Soumya Sarkar out for eight apiece, but Tanzid hit back with an aggressive counter-attack that hauled the hosts to 67 in 10 overs.
Tanzid found an able ally in Shanto and the left-handed pair put on 120 runs for the third-wicket stand to put the chase firmly in Bangladesh’s control. Left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox briefly threatened to spark a collapse, dismissing Tanzid and Litton Das in quick succession -- both falling while attempting to clear the boundary.
Tanzid struck 10 fours and four sixes in his 58-ball knock. Litton made seven. Shanto kept his calm as he raised his fifty off 71 balls, but was forced to retire due to severe cramp. Towhid Hridoy, unbeaten on 30, and skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz, not out on eight, saw Bangladesh home without further trouble. Earlier, the 23-year-old Rana set up the win during New Zealand’s innings after he operated across four separate spells and struck in the first over of each new burst.
Left-arm quick Shoriful Islam provided strong support, returning 2-32 from his 10 overs, including the wicket of Nick Kelly (83). Fast bowlers Soumya and Taskin Ahmed took one wicket each, as did leg-spinner Rishad Hossain.
