Towhid Hridoy delivered a composed unbeaten half-century as Bangladesh secured a six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first T20I in Chattogram on April 27, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Chasing 183, Hridoy anchored the innings with a fluent 51 not out from 27 balls. His knock, which included two fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 188.88, ensured Bangladesh completed the chase with 12 balls to spare.
The innings continued his strong form against New Zealand, following his performances in the recently concluded ODI series, where he scored 118 runs across three matches, remaining unbeaten twice with an average of 118.00 and a strike rate of 98.33.
New Zealand Post Competitive Total
Earlier, New Zealand put up 182 for 6 after being asked to bat first. Katene Clarke and Dane Cleaver both contributed 51 runs, while Nick Kelly added 39 and Josh Clarkson remained unbeaten on 27 to provide late impetus.
Bangladesh’s bowlers, however, kept the total within reach. Rishad Hossain picked up two key wickets, while Mahedi Hasan, Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Shoriful Islam each claimed one to prevent New Zealand from pushing past the 200 mark.
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Bangladesh Complete Controlled Chase
In response, Bangladesh approached the chase with control, with Hridoy’s innings providing the foundation. His calculated strokeplay and ability to accelerate at the right moments ensured the required rate never became an issue.
New Zealand’s bowlers struggled for consistency. Ish Sodhi finished with two wickets, while Nathan Smith and Josh Clarkson took one each. Ben Lister was the most economical, conceding 23 runs without taking a wicket, but the rest of the attack proved expensive.
Bangladesh ultimately reached the target comfortably, sealing the win with two overs remaining.
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The two teams will meet again in Chattogram on April 29 for the second T20I.
