Tigers tail is stung as Kane strikes
BANGLADESH captain Mashrafe Mortaza blamed his batsmen as Neil Broom showed them how it’s done with an unbeaten maiden century to lead New Zealand to a 67-run win in their second ODI.
Broom, recalled to the New Zealand team after a six-year absence, made just 22 as the Kiwis won the first ODI by 77 runs on Monday.
But three days later the 32year-old’s 109 not out held together a disjointed batting performance after New Zealand won the toss and scored a modest 251 runs.
That score looked perilous as the Tigers seemed to be cruising to victory with Imrul Kayes (59) and Sabbir Rahman (38) combining for a 75-run partnership for the second wicket, taking the tourists to 105-1 in 23 overs.
But after Sabbir was embarrassingly run out Bangladesh suffered another collapse, losing their next six wickets for 36 runs.
Broom starred here, too, as he took two catches off the bowling of captain Kane Williamson (3-22) as the hosts skittled their visitors for 184 in 42.4 overs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
“In comparison to the last match the bowlers have done a really good job,” said Mortaza, with Bangladesh still never having won in New Zealand.
“On this sort of wicket to get them for 250 was pretty good, but it was obviously disappointing with the bat. To be 100-1, then to collapse is disappointing.
“The wicket was a lot better than the last one and the batters should have been able to chase that total.”
In a rare bowling appearance, Williamson destroyed the Bangladesh middle order, dismissing Shakib Al Hasan (7), Tanbir Haider (2) and Masaddek Hossain (3) with ease.
He also participated in the runout of Sabbir which broke the critical partnership of the innings and held a catch to dismiss Mortaza for 17.
“I was a little bit fortunate with my bowling,” said Williamson. “The pitch suited the slower bowlers.
“It was the sort of surface on which if you could build a bit of pressure and put the ball on a good length for a long period of time then things could happen.”