BAN VS NZ 2ND ODI

Right then, that is is from this 2nd ODI where New Zealand registered a dominating win to seal the series while Bangladesh will still want to come back stronger in the next game to win for the first time on Kiwi soil in this format. The 3rd ODI will be played on 23rd December, Saturday at 3.30 am IST (10 pm GMT, Previous Day), but as you know, you can always join us early for all the build-up tp the match. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

Soumya Sarkar is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his smashing century even though in a losing cause. He says that he took time to settle in in the first few overs. Adds that he's delighted with his hundred but it's unfortunate to end up on the losing side. Adds that he had crucial partnerships with the veteran Mushfiqur and then with Miraz but they got out at the wrong time. He adds that they could've posted a bigger target if they hadn't lost wickets in quick succession. Concludes by saying that they will come back stronger in the next match.

Presentation Time...

Earlier in the game, Bangladesh posted a decent total on the board courtesy of a stunning hundred from Soumya Sarkar who scored more than half of his team's runs which says a lot about their performance. Jacob Duffy and William O'Rourke were the pick of the bowlers with three wickets each. While chasing, the Kiwis looked in control throughout the match and ended up getting to the target with a lot of balls to spare.

For Bangladesh, nothing much to talk about their bowling as they could not really challenge the hosts much.  Hasan Mahmud was pretty expensive but got a couple of wickets while Shoriful Islam got the other one. Their bowling looked lacklustre but there were a few positives with Mehidy Hasan managing to be economical on this flat deck while debutant Rishad Hossain also bowled well and looks like a good prospect for them in the future. However, they need to take a lot of learnings from this game and improve in the next match to play for their pride.

New Zealand got off to a flying start with both openers going aggressively and getting the boundaries with ease. Rachin Ravindra was looking solid but was dismissed trying to attack even more. After that, Henry Nicholls joined Will Young and both of them kept ticking the scoreboard nicely by rotating the strike and also getting the boundaries at regular intervals. Except for a couple of half-chances, they didn't really give anything away, but still, both of them missed out on their respective centuries as Young made 89 while Nicholls scored 95. They already got the Kiwis in a solid position and Tom Latham and Tom Blundell made sure that they finished the job on their hands.

A convincing victory for the Kiwis! They made this chase look like a cakewalk to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series and seal it. They will be happy that every department contributed in this game while Bangladesh looked a bit out of ideas defending the target on this flat pitch and will have to wait for their first win in this format against New Zealand in New Zealand.

SIX! Tom Blundell finishes things off in style! Lofted delivery which drifts into the batter from off, and drops it in the slot for Tom Blundell, he sits on his right knee and launches it over the long-on boundary for a six to finish off the game. New Zealand register a convincing victory by 7 wickets and also seal the 3-match ODI series by 2-0 with a bang!

Flights it up well around the off stump line on a fuller length, Tom Latham steers it down the ground towards long-on for a single.

Short one on off and middle. Tom Blundell pulls this one straight to the short mid-on fielder.

Dragged length on offer around off this time, Tom Blundell hangs back and drags it to mid-wicket.

Fuller on the channel. Tom Blundell punches to sweeper cover where a misfield by Anamul Haque results in a second run.

Tosses up well in front of the stumps, Tom Latham drives it off the front foot towards the cover pocket for a single.

Fuller just outside off. Tom Blundell walks down the ground and digs this one just over Tom Latham in the non-striker's end. But good fielding down the long on as the fielder saves the boundary.

Bowls loopy full toss from around the wicket, Tom Latham charges down the deck and drags it to mid-wicket for an easy single.

Overpitched delivery, on off. Tom Blundell rests this one down to ground.