New Zealand edge out Bangladesh in triseries encounter

Jimmy Neesham and stand-in skipper Tom Latham scored fifties as New Zealand overcame Bangladesh by four wickets in a tight tri-nation ODI match here on Wednesday.

Chasing a total of 257/9, the Black Caps lost wickets at regular intervals, but an 80-run stand for the fifth wicket between Neesham and Neil Broom, who scored 48, helped them get past the finishing line with four wickets and 15 balls to spare.

While skipper Latham scored 54, Neesham chipped in with 52 from 48 balls. Mustafizur Rahman was the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers, finishing with 2/33 from 9 overs.

Earlier, New Zealand restricted Bangladesh to 257 for nine. Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmuduallah all reached 50 but none could go on and Sarkar ended up as the top scorer with 61.

Hamish Bennett, the one change in the Black Caps line-up which beat Ireland in their first match on Sunday --he replaced Scott Kuggeleijn -was rewarded for an economical 10-over spell with two wickets in the last over to finish with three for 30.

Bangladesh also had to had make one change to their first line-up with captain Mashrafe Mortaza, who had been suspended for the Ireland game last Friday, returning in place of Taskin Ahmed.

The Tigers enjoyed a bright start with Tamim Iqbal and Sarkar putting on 72 for the first wicket but they had lost two wickets by the first drinks break with Tamin caught on the cover boundary for 23 and eight balls later, Sabbir Rahman was bowled by Mitchell Santner.