Shanto hits 76 on captaincy debut as Bangladesh dismissed for 171

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto battled lonely to hit 76 on his captaincy debut as Bangladesh were bundled out for a below par 171 in 34.2 overs, failing to play 50 overs yet again at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today.

Mahmudullah Riyad’s 21 was the second-best and was only 20 plus knock in Bangladesh’s innings, which exposed their batting frailties in an otherwise a good batting track.

Shanto won the toss and elected to bat first as Bangladesh came up with four changes from the squad of the second game, which they lost by 86 runs. The first match was washed out due to heavy rain.

Aiming to draw the series, Bangladesh’s start was not ideal enough as they lost both openers Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Zakir Hasan, who made his ODI debut with his match, at the very outset. That left them 8-2 in the just third over of the match.

Fast bowler Adam Milne, one of the two changes of New Zealand, claimed 4-34 while Trent Boult and Cole McConchie took two wickets apiece.

Zakir made just 1 before Milne rattled his stump with an express delivery.

Tanzid Tamim also fell to single digit figure but Shanto, who scored 89 and 104 in his previous two matches in Asia Cup, showed the way how to bat in this wicket.

Unfortunately, none of the batters could follow his suits. Towhid Hridoy showed the glimpse of talent further, taking the New Zealand bowlers in utmost confidence but Milne had him caught by Will Young at point to dismiss him for 18.

Mushfiqur Rahim also got his start and scored 18 before skipper Lockie Ferguson removed him.

Mahmudullah hit leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, the wrecker-in-chief of Bangladesh in the second match, consecutive boundaries but he too failed to convert his start as he edged behind after sharing 49-run for the fifth wicket with Shanto.

Sodhi who grabbed career-best 6-39 in the second game, went wicket-less as he conceded 40 runs in six overs.

Although Shanto kept the scoreboard ticking, the wickets tumbled at the end as Bangladesh lost the last five wickets for just 34 runs.

Shanto was the eighth batter out when he tried to play a reverse sweep against off spinner Cole McConchie. He struck 10 fours in his 84-ball knock.

After Shanto’s dismissal, Bangladesh lost three wickets, adding just three runs to the scoreboard. (BSS)