न्यूज़ीलैंड vs बांग्लादेश, पहला टी20, मेकलीन पार्क, नेपियर, 27 December 2023 - कमेंट्री

Short and wide, Mahedi Hasan cuts it hard but straight to point.

SIX! That is going to make things better for Bangladesh. What a shot, over covers for a massive six. Pitches the ball up on the off stump line and Mahedi Hasan moves around to give himself room and lofts the ball over the sweepers fielder for a massive six.

Short ball at the batter. Mahedi Hasan pulls the ball well to the left of the deep square leg for another couple to add on the total. 2 more runs are required for the win now.

FOUR! Mahedi Hasan finishes off in style and Bangladesh have won the game. Pitched up on the stumps and Mahedi Hasan lofts the ball over mid off that takes the ball through to the long off boundary for four runs. Bangladesh lead the series 1-0.

FOUR! What a start to the over for Bangladesh. Litton Das has taken it upon himself to get his side home. Slower ball pitched up on the stumps with mid off inside the circle and Litton Das smacks the ball straight past the bowler beating mid off for a superb boundary.

SIX! That is drama at its level best. Ish Sodhi might just have dropped the match and the ball is confirmed as SIX. Pitched up on the stumps and Litton Das plays a paddle scoop taking the ball straight down Ish Sodhi's throat at fine leg who is not aware where the rope is. He catches it when his back foot touches the boundary line and concedes a six. What a miss for New Zealand.

Pitched up on the stumps. Litton Das flicks the ball to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Pitched up on the off stump. Mahedi Hasan strokes the ball down to mid off, no run.

Short ball at the batter and Mahedi Hasan pulls it away to the right of deep square leg and there is an exceptional fielding to keep the ball down to a single.

Pitched up on the stumps. Litton Das plays another paddle scoop towards the right of fine leg and runs a couple to end the over.

Hits the deck hard on the top of the off stump line. Mahedi Hasan stays on the crease and blocks it off well towards mid-wicket.

Short ball used well outside the off stump. Mahedi Hasan looking to charge at the bowler, ducks and lets the ball go through in the end.

Leg bye. Short at the thigh pads of Mahedi Hasan who looks to pull it but gets a hit on the thigh and runs a single from square leg.

Short ball on top of the off stump again. Litton Das makes room for himself and tucks the ball to third man for a run.

Bowls a good length ball at the stumps and Mahedi Hasan drops the ball down towards mid-wicket for a quick single. The throw from the fielder is wide and allows the batters to come back for a second.

Slower ball short at the batter. Mahedi Hasan moves around and looks to run it down to third man but manages to find Glenn Phillips at point. No run.

Length batt outside the off-stump line. Mahedi Hasan taps the ball down to third man and gets Litton Das back on the strike.

FOUR! That is a good shot for a boundary by Litton Das. Length ball on top of the off stumps and Litton Das walks around and lofts the ball to the left of deep square leg to pick up the boundary.

Short and wide, cut away towards sweepers for a single.

Pitched up on the off stump line with pace. Mahedi Hasan steps down the track and drives the ball straight to sweepers for a single.

Short ball at the batter. Litton Das plays a half-hearted pull shot towards long on and runs a single.

Pitched up on the pads, straight with pace. Mahedi Hasan pushes the ball into the long on gap and takes a single to end the over.

Angling back into the left-hander, on a back of a length, dabbed straight to backward point.

Honing in at the batter, on a length, Afif Hossain tucks it straight to Daryl Mitchell at short mid-wicket.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Tim Southee gets into the act now! Bangladesh will start to feel the pressure now! Southee bangs it into the deck, at the batter from around the wicket, Afif Hossain tries to take on the short ball but he is in no position whatsoever. The ball gets big on him and splices it in the air towards James Neesham at short mid-wicket who makes no mistake. Tim Southee gets his first wicket and Bangladesh have now lost half their side!

Hurls it on a good length, on middle, Mahedi Hasan plays it from the crease to short mid-wicket.

Back of a length, angling in, at the hips, Mahedi Hasan helps it away behind square on the leg side for a single.

NOT OUT! Litton Das survives as technology comes to his aid! Tim Southee comes from over the wicket and bowls it on a good length, on middle, Litton Das plays a risky shot as he walks across his stumps and look to clip away off his pads. He fails to connect and gets pinged on the front pad. A loud shout and up goes the finger. Litton Das takes the review. Nothing on UltraEdge but guess what? Ball Tracking shows the ball to be going over the stumps. Litton Das breathes a sigh of relief as do the Bangladesh fans!

Short and turning away, outside off, Towhid Hridoy cuts it hard to deep point and has to settle with a single.

Leg bye! Short and fired in, a bit of extra bounce, Litton Das tries to paddle it away but the rises to hit him on the body and sneaks past the keeper for a leg bye.

OUT! TAKEN! Mitchell Santner breaks through for New Zealand! Is this the start of a fightback from the Kiwis? Santner hangs this one up in the air, on a length, outside off, Towhid Hridoy steps out but does not get to the pitch of the delivery. He still goes through the shot as he looks to push it away but ends up chipping it towards extra cover. Daryl Mitchell stationed there, dives forward and grabs it inches off the ground.

Floats it up, turning in, outside off, Afif Hossain clips it straight to short mid-wicket.

Tosses it up again, on middle, Afif Hossain gets on the front foot and blocks it out.

Fuller and quicker, on off, Afif Hossain works it in front of square on the leg side and opens his account with a single.

Bowls it on the off-stump line, short in length, Litton Das gets on his toes and nudges it through square leg for a single

Slips this one short and on the pads, Towhid Hridoy closes the bat face and works it off the back foot to deep square leg for a single.

Sliding on the pads again, Litton Das flicks this short delivery to deep square leg for one more run. Smart batting from Bangladesh as they continue to milk the singles.

Dishes out a googly, short and on off, Towhid Hridoy rocks back and punches it through covers for one more.

At the stumps, tossed up as well, Litton Das gets forward and nudges it in front of square on the leg side for a single.

Googly again, short and on off, Towhid Hridoy reads it well and pats it to deep point for one more run. Bangladesh get six singles off the over without taking any risk!

Serves it fuller and slower, on middle, Litton Das lunges and knocks it down to long on for a single.

Offers flight, short and outside off, Towhid Hridoy shuffles to the off side and chops it to the left of backward point for a quick single.

Coming in with the angle, short and at the stumps, Litton Das backs away and cuts it to deep point for one more run.

Nicely bowled! Loops it up, full and turning away, on off, Towhid Hridoy looks to play at it but the ball dips on him and spins past the outside edge.

Gives the ball even more air but bowls it a bit too full, on off, Towhid Hridoy gets the weight on the front foot and drills it past extra cover for two more runs.

Pushes it through, shorter and quicker, on middle, Towhid Hridoy stays back and keeps it out down the wicket.

Honing in, at the stumps, on a length, Towhid Hridoy gets behind the line and tucks it in front of short mid-wicket.

SIX! BANG! Towhid Hridoy has picked the bones out of that! Ben Sears takes pace off by rolling his fingers over the ball and bowls it on a length, outside off, Towhid Hridoy picks the change of pace early and hammers it with disdain over wide long on for a biggie.

Angling in, on a length, around off, Towhid Hridoy gets forward and dabs it along the ground to backward point.

Short of a length, angling in at the batter, Towhid Hridoy helps it off the back foot to fine leg for a single.

Fuller this time and outside off, Litton Das leans on and pushes it to the left of short mid-wicket for a single.

Good running! Pacy delivery, on a length, on off, Towhid Hridoy clips it nicely to the right of long on and collects a couple of runs.

Tossed up outside the off stump. Litton Das tucks the ball to the left of Mark Chapman at point who fields the ball brilliantly with one hand but throws the ball wide of the wicketkeeper giving Bangladesh a single.

Pitched up outside the off stump line. Towhid Hridoy steps down the track and drives the ball to long off for a single.

Tossed up slow on the off stump line. Litton Das walks around and flicks the ball towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Short and wide, Towhid Hridoy taps the batt straight to point.

Flighted ball on the stumps. Towhid Hridoy sweeps it down to deep square leg and runs a single.

Tossed up on the off stump, inviting Litton Das to play a big stroke. Litton Das blocks the ball off the front foot towards covers and ends the over.

Pitched up on the stumps. Soumya Sarkar drives the ball hard to long on for a single.

Just short at the batter. Litton Das flicks the ball from the crease towards deep square leg for a single.

FOUR! That is clipped away nicely with superb timing. Soumya Sarkar playing a brilliant innings here. Pitched up on the stumps and Soumya Sarkar flicks the ball over short mid-wicket with superb timing to take the ball towards the deep mid-wicket fence for a boundary.

OUT! TIMBER! What a comeback by Ben Sears. 143 clicks targetting the stumps. Pitches the ball up with pace from over the wicket right after being hit for a boundary. Soumya Sarkar stays on the crease and plays all over the ball, tries to hit a flat batted shot and misses the ball completely. Bangladesh 3 down now.

Short ball at the pads of the new batter. Towhid Hridoy flicks the ball to deep square leg and runs a single to open his account.

Pitched up on the stumps. Litton Das drives the ball down to long on and keeps the strike.

Short and wide for the left-hander and Soumya Sarkar tucks it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Short ball, gripping on the surface and Litton Das stays back and looks to pull, in the end gets a top edge falling short of long on and runs a single.

Pitched just short outside the off-stump line. Soumya Sarkar tucks the ball down to short third man and runs a good single.

On the pads again, flicked away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Tossed up on the stumps. Soumya Sarkar tucks it down to mid-wicket and runs a single.

Turning it away, short and on off, a bit of extra bounce, Litton Das bunts it from the crease towards cover.

Wide! Wayward outside the leg stump first up by Ish Sodhi. Wide called by the umpire.

SIX! What a pickup slog for a huge six over the deep mid-wicket fielder. Soumya Sarkar joins the party and heaves a fuller ball on the stumps to take it long over deep mid-wicket for a colossal six.

FOUR! The switch hit working well for the left-hander. Pressure back on Ish Sodhi. Pitched up outside the off stump line and Soumya Sarkar plays the switch hit over short third man for another superb boundary.

Hols the length back a little and Soumya Sarkar looks to play the conventional sweep but misses out on any contact with the bat.

Dishes out a googly, short and on off, Soumya Sarkar reads it well and punches it down to long off for a single.

Short ball at the stumps. Litton Das taps it down to deep square leg for a single.

Short and wide outside off, Soumya Sarkar reaches out and cracks the cut to deep point for a single.

 Pitched up on the stumps. Litton Das takes the front foot out and flicks the ball to deep square leg for a single to start the over.

Beats Soumya Sarkar all ends up from a fuller length just outside the off stump line. Ben Sears starts off well.

Hits the deck hard outside the off stump again. Soumya Sarkar taps it down from the crease towards the off side.

Short and wide, Soumya Sarkar looks to cut it hard but gets a thick edge towards third man for a single.

Pitches the ball just short at the stumps. Litton Das plays at it late to run it down to third man for a single.

Pitched up on the stumps. Soumya Sarkar flicks the ball to deep square leg for a single to end the over.

On a length, at the stumps, Litton Das pushes with a straight bat to the right of the bowler for a single. James Neesham falls over in his follow through but gets back up on his feet quickly.

On the off-stump line, on a hard length, Najmul Hossain Shanto waits for the ball to arrive and opens the bat face to steer it down to third man for a single.

Length delivery, around off, Litton Das stays in the crease and glides it along the ground to short third man.

Takes pace off and bowls it on a length, on off, Litton Das steps out and bunts it wide of cover for a single.

FOUR! Najmul Hossain Shanto continues to use his feet and helps himself to another boundary! Angling across the left-hander, on a good length, outside off, Najmul Hossain Shanto advances down the track again and frees his arms to hit it through extra cover for a boundary.

OUT! TAKEN! James Neesham has the last laugh! Najmul Hossain Shanto is in disbelief but he has to walk back now! James Neesham pulls his length back now and bowls it on off, Najmul Hossain Shanto gives the charge again but the length is short as compared to the previous delivery. He gets the proper connection but falls to keep his shot along the ground. Ends up slapping it straight into the bread basket of Mitchell Santner at wide mid off.

FOUR! Shot of authority! On a length, outside off, Najmul Hossain Shanto gives the charge and drills it aerially but to the left of mid off for a boundaty.

Hits the length hard on the off stump line. Najmul Hossain Shanto looks to run it down to third man but is beaten by the extra pace and bounce.

Pitched further up outside the off stump. Najmul Hossain Shanto looks to cut it hard and gets an inside edge back to the wicket keeper on the bounce.

FOUR! That is very lucky for Bangladesh and Najmul Hossain Shanto. The captain living dangerously. Hits the hard length on the off-stump line and Najmul Hossain Shanto gets a hit on his glove that takes the ball just over the reach of the wicketkeeper and the ball races away to the third man boundary for four runs.

Fuller this time and outside off, Najmul Hossain Shanto drives well but picks out the man at extra cover.

Fullish length, around off, Najmul Hossain Shanto pats it off the front foot to cover.

Length delivery, on off, Litton Das watchfully tucks it with soft hands in front of mid-wicket and calls Najmul Hossain Shanto through for a quick single.

Back of a length, outside off, Najmul Hossain Shanto waits on it and dabs it along the ground to backward point.

On a good length and angling away, outside off, Najmul Hossain Shanto works it with the angle as he glides it down to third man for a single.

Leg bye! Angling into the pads, on a length, Litton Das misses the clip and gets hit on the thigh pad as the ball rolls to fine leg for a leg bye.

Short of a length, wide outside off, Najmul Hossain Shanto throws his hands at the delivery and gets a thickish outside edge that goes on the bounce to third man for a single.

Back of a length, on middle and leg, Litton Das pulls it without much timing but gets it past mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Bowls it with an upright seam, on off, on a length, Litton Das walks across to scoop it over short fine leg. Gets an inside edge on the front pad as the ball rolls on the leg side for a single.

Excellent stop! Adam Milne hurls it on a length, on off, Rony Talukdar clears his front leg and hammers it down the ground towards mid off. Mitchell Santner reacts quickly and dives to his right to make a half-stop. Two runs taken.

WIDE! A bit too straight, straying down leg, on a back of a length, Rony Talukdar misses the tickle and the umpire calls it a wide.

Full and outside off, Rony Talukdar stays deep in his crease and slogs it off the inner half of the bat to the right of mid on for a couple of runs.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Adam Milne strikes in his first over and gives New Zealand a much-needed early breakthrough! Rony Talukdar's ultra-attacking approach leads to his downfall! On a hard length, on off, Rony Talukdar tries to take it on off the front foot but does not manage to get on top of the bounce. Gets this one off the bottom part of the bat and skies it high in the air and only as far as mid on where Tim Southee snaffles it with his fingers pointing downwards.

Back of a length, around off, Najmul Hossain Shanto gets on his toes and punches it to backward point.

FOUR! Najmul Hossain Shanto gets off the mark in style! Milne bowls it short and outside off, Shanto gets this one at a good height and he does not miss out. He controls the pull well by rolling his wrists and hits it past mid-wicket for a boundary.

Starts from over the wicket and strays on the pads, on a length, Litton Das gets half-forward and tucks it to mid-wicket.

Litton Das and Bangladesh are underway! Bowls it on the fifth stump line, on a good length, a hint of away movement, Litton Das gets forward and taps it in front of mid off for a quick single.

Angles it into the right-hander, on a length, on middle, Rony Talukdar clips it neatly but can't get it past Mark Chapman at mid-wicket.

Pulls his length back and bowls it around off, Rony Talukdar waits back in his crease and dabs it along the ground towards backward point.

SIX! Whoa...what a shot to get off the mark! Tim Southee serves it on a length, on off, Rony Talukdar backs away and creates room. He takes no half-measures as he tonks the ball over the cover fence for his first maximum.

Bowls it in the channel on off, outside off, Rony Talukdar looks to play at this one away from his body and gets beaten as the ball zips past the outside edge.