Dhaka, April 21 (V7N) —Bangladesh produced one of their most complete performances in recent memory to defeat New Zealand by six wickets in the second One-Day International at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on April 20, 2026. The victory, powered by a devastating spell of fast bowling from Nahid Rana, ensured the three-match series is now locked at 1-1 heading into a high-stakes decider in Chattogram.

Rana’s Fiery Spell

The day belonged to Nahid Rana. The 23-year-old pacer ripped through New Zealand’s batting order with pace, bounce, and precision, finishing with figures of 5 for 32 in 9.4 overs. It was his second career five-wicket haul in ODIs, and arguably his most impactful. Clocking speeds up to 144.7 kph, Rana dismissed Henry Nicholls and Will Young early, before returning later to clean up the tail. His relentless aggression set the tone and left New Zealand reeling.

Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz praised his bowlers after the match: “Rana, Shoriful, and Taskin bowled really well. Not easy to bowl in these conditions.” Indeed, the Dhaka pitch was slow and uneven, with balls often keeping low, but Rana’s ability to extract movement and maintain discipline proved decisive.

New Zealand, having won the toss and elected to bat, never found rhythm. Captain Tom Latham admitted afterwards: “We never managed to build partnerships, which made it difficult. Defending 200, you need early wickets. We took a couple, but credit to the way they played with intent.”

Nick Kelly was the lone bright spot for the visitors. Playing in only his second ODI, Kelly compiled a composed 83 off 102 balls, striking 14 boundaries. He reached his maiden fifty and showed resilience against Bangladesh’s pace attack. Yet his teammates failed to provide support—no other batsman crossed 20. The Kiwis were bowled out for 198 in 48.4 overs, a total well below par.

ShOriful Islam chipped in with 2 for 32, including the crucial dismissal of Kelly with a short-pitched delivery. Taskin Ahmed and Soumya Sarkar added one wicket apiece, ensuring Bangladesh’s dominance with the ball.

Bangladesh’s Chase

Chasing 199, Bangladesh lost Saif Hassan cheaply in the first over, and Soumya Sarkar soon after. But opener Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto steadied the innings with a commanding 120-run partnership for the third wicket. Tanzid was the aggressor, smashing 76 off 58 balls with 10 fours and 4 sixes. His strokeplay was fearless, taking the attack to New Zealand’s bowlers.

Shanto played the anchor role, scoring 50 off 71 deliveries before retiring hurt with cramps. His calm presence allowed Tanzid to flourish, and together they effectively sealed the contest. Jayden Lennox eventually dismissed Tanzid, but by then Bangladesh were well on course.

Litton Das, playing his 100th ODI, managed only 7 runs, but Towhid Hridoy ensured there were no late hiccups. His unbeaten 30 off 31 balls guided Bangladesh home in the 36th over, with Miraz at the other end on 8 not out. Bangladesh finished at 199 for 4, winning with 87 balls to spare.

New Zealand’s Bowling Effort

Jayden Lennox was the pick of the Kiwi bowlers, returning 2 for 36 in his nine overs, including two maidens. William O’Rourke and Nathan Smith claimed one wicket each but were expensive. The lack of penetration in the middle overs allowed Bangladesh’s batsmen to dominate.

The victory was crucial for Bangladesh, who had lost the first ODI by 26 runs. By leveling the series, they now head to Chattogram with momentum firmly on their side. For New Zealand, the challenge will be to regroup quickly and adapt to unfamiliar conditions at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, where they have not played in recent years.

Tom Latham acknowledged the importance of the decider: “It’s a new ground for us and one we haven’t played at for a long time, so adapting quickly will be important. We’ll prepare well over the next couple of days and hopefully give it a really good effort.

For Bangladesh, Rana’s performance is a reminder of their growing pace arsenal. Traditionally reliant on spin, the Tigers now boast a trio of fast bowlers—Rana, Shoriful, and Taskin—capable of winning matches outright. Tanzid’s explosive batting also signals a new generation of fearless stroke-makers ready to take responsibility.

For New Zealand, Kelly’s innings was a silver lining, but the lack of support from senior players raises questions. With the World Cup looming later this year, the Black Caps will need to address their middle-order fragility and bowling depth.

The second ODI in Dhaka showcased Bangladesh at their best: incisive bowling, aggressive batting, and clinical finishing. Nahid Rana’s five-wicket haul will be remembered as the defining moment, while Tanzid Hasan’s fireworks ensured the chase was never in doubt. With the series tied 1-1, all eyes now turn to Chattogram, where the decider promises high drama and another chance for Bangladesh to assert their growing stature in world cricket.

END/WSP/RH