New Zealand Beats Bangladesh by 8 Wickets in First ODI

NAIPER,FEBRUARY 15 - Pace, swing and Martin Guptill's 15th ODI hundred set up New Zealand's eight-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first ODI in Napier. After Trent Boult led the home side with early wickets that derailed the visitors, Guptill ensured the modest chase didn't see any hiccups. New Zealand finished the 233 chases with 33 balls to spare.

It was how Boult and Matt Henry bowled in the first 10 overs that nearly decided the outcome. They took the first four wickets before Lockie Ferguson and Mitchell Santner provided support with five wickets between them. A Bangladesh record eighth-wicket stand, worth 84 runs, between Mohammad Mithun and Mohammad Saifuddin, lifted Bangladesh from 131 for 7 in the 29th over. Mithun steered them with 62 off 90 balls, that featured five fours, and Saifuddin scored 41 off 58 balls with three fours.

Guptill and Nicholls started off relatively slowly as they hit just three fours and a six in the first Powerplay to put on 42 on the board. Mushfiqur dropped Guptill, on 47, off Mehidy in the 21st over.

Guptill, who picked up most of his runs on the leg side, didn't change the pace of his innings one bit as he steadied towards the century. He reached the landmark in the 41st over with a single off Sabbir, before hitting Mustafizur Rahman for two fours as he freed his arms against anything slightly wide.