CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand - Opener Tom Latham’s career best 137 set New Zealand up for a crushing 77-run victory over Bangladesh in their opening One-Day International at Hagley Oval Monday.
With Latham in commanding form and Colin Munro chiming in with a rollicking 87, New Zealand posted 341-7 and the Bangladesh innings closed at 264-9 with Mushfiqur Rahim retired hurt.
It was New Zealand’s highest score in 26 matches against Bangladesh and Latham’s 158-run stand with Munro was a New Zealand record for the fifth wicket against the tourists.
For New Zealand, it was the commanding performance it was looking for after its recent 3-0 hiding by Australia.
But for Bangladesh there were few highlights to launch its New Zealand tour.
Its talisman Shakib Al Hasan topped its bowling (3-69) and batting (59) performances, and Mosaddek Hossain was not out 50 at the end, his maiden ODI half century.
Mushfiqur reached 42 before a hamstring strain ended his innings, but by then Bangladesh was 219-6 and the required run rate had ballooned out to 10.69.
But it was always going to be a big ask for Bangladesh after Latham’s 137 off 121 deliveries.
The left-hander had a nerve-wracking moment on seven when a Mashrafe Mortaza delivery sailed just over the off stumps but otherwise he remained unflustered despite the inability of the top order to stay with him.
Martin Guptill (15), Kane Williamson (31), Neil Broom (22) and Jimmy Neesham (12) all failed to push on.
New Zealand was 158-4 when Munro joined Latham and proceeded to smack 87, his personal best, from 61 deliveries.
Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes made a solid start for Bangladesh, pushing through to 34 in the eighth over before Kayes was the first to fall for 16.
With his dismissal, and the introduction of all-rounder Jimmy Neesham to the attack, New Zealand took control.
With his second delivery, Neesham removed Soumya Sarkar and two balls later the medium pacer had Mahmudullah caught behind without scoring and Bangladesh was 48-3 in the 11th over.
By the 18th over it was 81-4 when Neesham removed Tamim for 38.
Shakib offered stubborn resistance with 59 off 54 deliveries and Mosaddek also batted better than a run-a-ball for his 50.
For New Zealand, Neesham took three for 36 and Lockie Ferguson three for 54.
The second match in the series is in Nelson Thursday.
