NZ vs BAN Highlights, 1st ODI Match: New Zealand go 1-0 up after 26-run win over Bangladesh

Focus shifts to the second ODI - That concludes our coverage of the opening ODI, with New Zealand securing a vital head start in the series. The Black Caps successfully defended their total in Mirpur, leaving the hosts with plenty to ponder before the next encounter. The series continues right here on April 20, 2026, with the action scheduled to begin at 5.00 am GMT. Until then, it’s cheers for now!

New Zealand captain Tom Latham - Latham expresses satisfaction with his team's total of 247, noting that the decision to bat first paid off as the pitch deteriorated and became more difficult for the opposition late in the game. He praises his batting unit for their grit, specifically highlighting the value of small, tactical contributions and Dean Foxcroft’s anchoring role rather than relying solely on massive partnerships.

Dean Foxcroft wins the Player of the Match - Dean Foxcroft wins the POTM for his contribution with both bat and ball as he scored 59 runs and took an important wicket of Litton Das. Dean credited his success to previous experience with the New Zealand A team, noting that last year's tour provided the essential preparation needed for these conditions. Dean expressed his immense pride in the team’s collective effort across all departments, mentioning that while they viewed 247 as a competitive total, they remained wary of Bangladesh’s batting depth.

Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz - Miraz reflects on the defeat by identifying missed opportunities in the field, noting that a pair of dropped catches prevented his side from restricting New Zealand to a sub-200 total. While he praises Shoriful Islam for his impressive performance as a last-minute replacement for the injured Mustafizur Rahman, Miraz points to the lack of a finishing kick as the decisive factor in the chase. Miraz credited Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, and Afif Hossain for their middle-order contributions but stresses that failing to convert those starts into a match-winning partnership ultimately proved costly against a disciplined Kiwi attack.

Time for the presentation ceremony ...

Tickner and Smith slam the door - The final blow was delivered by Blair Tickner, who tore through the lower order to finish with 4/40, while Nathan Smith capped off a stellar day with 3/45. From a position of strength at 184/4, Bangladesh crashed to 221 all out as the New Zealand bowlers' clinical execution silenced the Dhaka crowd.

Bangladesh’s rollercoaster recovery - The chase was a story of early chaos followed by a brilliant resurrection. Nathan Smith’s double-strike in the Powerplay left Bangladesh reeling, but Saif Hassan and Litton Das displayed immense character with a 93-run stand. At 124/3 in the 25th over, the Tigers were the clear favorites, having navigated the storm to put themselves in a commanding position for the second half of the pursuit.

Patience pays off in the first act - The Kiwi innings began with extreme caution, crawling to 38/1 in the opening ten overs as Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam applied the squeeze. Henry Nicholls emerged as the anchor, refusing to be rattled by the lack of early boundaries and nudging his way to a vital 68. Despite a middle-over wobble sparked by Rishad Hossain and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, which saw New Zealand stumble to 131/4 but Dean Foxcroft’s counter-attacking 59 and a late flourish from Nathan Smith pushed the total into contest territory. 

The Kiwis win the series opener - New Zealand turned a quiet start into a thunderous statement, defeating Bangladesh by 26 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series. While a total of 247/8 might have looked modest on paper, it proved to be a mountain too high for the hosts on a demanding Mirpur surface. The visitors’ ability to roar late in both innings ensured they stayed ahead of the curve, eventually bowling out the Tigers for 221 in the 49th over.

Nathan Smith to Tawhid Hridoy, OUT! CAUGHT! Short pitched, around middle and off, Tawhid Hridoy looks to take this up and over the fielder at deep square leg but ends up mishitting this from the bottom of his bat and Henry Nicholls takes a good catch running in from the fence to wrap this contest. New Zealand wins this contest by 26 runs. 

Nathan Smith to Tawhid Hridoy, Back of a length, around off, Tawhid Hridoy defends this around extra cover. 

Nathan Smith to Tawhid Hridoy, SIX! Another over starts with a biggie from the bat of Tawhid Hridoy. Pitched up, around off, Tawhid Hridoy shuffles across the stumps and hammers this over the fence to long off for a huge six. 

Blair Tickner to Nahid Rana, Slower one, around off. Nahid Rana defends this to point. 

Blair Tickner to Nahid Rana, Good length, around off, Nahid Rana plays within the line and gets beaten. 

Blair Tickner to Nahid Rana, On a length, around off. Rana blocks this out.

Blair Tickner to Nahid Rana, WIDE! Full and wide down the leg. Wided.

Nahid Rana walks out last to bat.

Blair Tickner to Taskin Ahmed, OUT! BOWLED'EM! On a length, angling into the batter, around middle and off. Taskin Ahmed looks to hit this around the mid-wicket region but misses and sees his timber rattled. 

Blair Tickner to Taskin Ahmed, Wide yorker, slower, around off. Taskin Ahmed looks to guide this to short third but misses out.

Blair Tickner to Tawhid Hridoy, On a length, around middle and leg, Tawhid Hridoy flicks this to deep mid-wicket and rotates the strike. 

35 runs are needed off the last 3 overs. 

Will O'Rourke to Taskin Ahmed, Right in the channel, wide of off. Taskin Ahmed pokes at it but gets beaten on the outside.

35 needed off the last 19 balls. 

Will O'Rourke to Taskin Ahmed, Hard length, around off, Taskin Ahmed looks to flash at it but gets beaten on the outside. 

Will O'Rourke to Taskin Ahmed, WIDE! Good length, down the leg. Taskin Ahmed leaves it. Wided.

Has Hridoy made a mistake by taking a single here? Taskin is a handy batter but let's see.

Will O'Rourke to Taskin Ahmed, Full and wide of off, Taskin Ahmed lofts this around extra cover and takes a brace here.

Will O'Rourke to Tawhid Hridoy, Slower one, around off, Tawhid Hridoy chips this to sweeper cover and takes a single. 

39 more needed now.

Will O'Rourke to Tawhid Hridoy, Good length, around off, Tawhid Hridoy blocks this off his front foot.

Will O'Rourke to Tawhid Hridoy, SIX! Up and over the fence for a huge six. Pitched up, around middle and off, Tawhid Hridoy steps across and flicks this over the fence towards the deep square leg region for a huge biggie. 

Taskin Ahmed walks out next in the middle. 

Blair Tickner to Shoriful Islam, OUT! TIMBER! Blair Tickner comes around the stumps and bowls this into the line of the sticks. Shoriful Islam clears his front foot and looks to whack this over the fence but misses and gets casteld. 

Blair Tickner to Shoriful Islam, WIDE! Good length, down the leg. Wided. 

Shoriful Islam walks out next in the middle. 

Blair Tickner to Rishad Hossain, OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Short and wide of off, Rishad Hossain looks to hammer this over the bowler and connects well but Blair Tickner takes a stunner in his follow-through as he grabs this both-handed over his head.

Blair Tickner to Tawhid Hridoy, Good length, on middle and off, Tawhid Hridoy punches this past the bowler for one more. 

Blair Tickner to Tawhid Hridoy, Short one, slower around off, Tawhid Hridoy looks to cut it but misses out.

48 runs are needed off 29 balls. 

Blair Tickner to Rishad Hossain, Pitched up, around off, Rishad Hossain drives this to sweeper cover and takes a single. 

Blair Tickner to Rishad Hossain, Pitched up, around off, Rishad Hossain jumps down the track and hammers this grounded to mid off for no run.

Nathan Smith to Tawhid Hridoy, back of a length, around middle and leg, Tawhid Hridoy pulls this towards the left of deep square leg for a couple of runs. 

Nathan Smith to Rishad Hossain, Good length, around off, Rishad Hossain punches this off the inner half of his bat to mid off for a single. 

Nathan Smith to Tawhid Hridoy, On a length, around off, Tawhid Hridoy pushes this towards point for a single. 

Nathan Smith to Rishad Hossain, Short and wide of off, Rishad Hossain dabs this to the third man region for a single. 

Nathan Smith to Rishad Hossain, On a length, around off, Rishad Hossain keeps it out off his front foot. 

Nathan Smith to Rishad Hossain, Back of a length, around off, Rishad Hossain defends this off his front foot.

Blair Tickner to Rishad Hossain, Hard length, around off, Rishad Hossain pulls this through mid-wicket for a single. 

Blair Tickner to Rishad Hossain, Slower one, around off, Rishad Hossain defends this around covers.

Rishad Hossain walks out next in the middle.