183. Although the target seemed high, Bangladesh achieved it with ease. The Tigers won the first T20 of the series by 6 wickets with two overs to spare.

With this victory, Bangladesh has created the record of chasing the highest number of runs against New Zealand in international T20s. Earlier, the Tigers had a precedent of chasing the highest number of 135 runs against the Kiwis.

Bangladesh and New Zealand faced each other in the first match of the T20 series in Chittagong on Monday (April 27). Where New Zealand initially lost the toss and scored 182 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.

This target was desirable on the batting-friendly pitch in Chittagong. However, after New Zealand’s flying start, it seemed that their team’s run would touch 200. After scoring 61 runs for the loss of just one wicket in the power play, the visitors reached the team’s 100 runs before the end of 10 overs.

Despite losing wickets, New Zealand kept the run rate going. Openers Cotton Clarke and Dane Cleaver scored individual half-centuries. Captain Nick Kelly and Josh Clarkson also played responsible innings.

Rishad Hossain took the highest 2 wickets for Bangladesh. In addition, Shariful Islam, Tanjim Hasan Shakib and Mahedi Hasan took 1 wicket each.

Bangladesh also got off to a good start with the bat in the chase. The two Tiger openers showed an aggressive attitude from the beginning, the Tigers scored 44 runs in the power play, but Saif Hasan returned to the dressing room after being caught by Nathan Smith on the third ball of the sixth over. Saif’s bat came to 17 runs off 16 balls.

Captain Liton Das, along with another opener Tanjid Hasan, tried to keep the run wheel going. However, the fifth ball of the ninth over was bowled by Ish Sodhi along the middle stump. Liton wanted to pull the ball, but the ball did not hit the bat and hit the middle stump directly. Liton went to the crease after scoring 21 runs off 15 balls.

Then the pair of Towhid Hridoy and Parvez Hossain Emon took charge of the team. The Tigers’ run rate was kept up by the aggressive batting of the two. Bangladesh fans were mainly counting on this pair to win.

But Emon fell victim to Josh Clarkson in the last ball of the 15th over. This Tiger batter played a cameo innings of 28 runs off 14 balls.

After that, Hridoy and Shamim Hossain started batting furiously. This pair continued to destroy the Kiwi bowlers. Hridoy also scored his fifty. Finally, the hosts reached the target with two overs in hand.

Short scores

New Zealand: 182/6 in 20 overs; Cleaver 51, Clarke 51; Rishad 2-32, Mahedi 1-31

Bangladesh: 183/4 in 18 overs; Hridoy 51*, Shamim 31*; Sodhi 2-40, Clarkson 1-28

Result: Bangladesh won by 6 wickets

Bangladesh lead the three-match series 1-0