Rain Plays Spoilsport: First Bangladesh vs. New Zealand ODI Abandoned in Dhaka

In a disappointing turn of events, incessant rain led to the abandonment of the first one-day international (ODI) between Bangladesh and New Zealand in Dhaka on Thursday. The match officials had no choice but to declare the game abandoned as rain halted the New Zealand innings at 136/5 in 33.4 overs.

Will Young emerged as the top scorer for New Zealand with a commendable 58 off 91 balls. He shared a crucial partnership of 97 runs with Henry Nicholls for the third wicket, rescuing the visitors from a precarious 2-16 situation. This partnership displayed resilience and determination in challenging conditions.

Rain-Interrupted Clash

Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bowl first, but their plans were foiled by the unrelenting rain, which stopped the game after just 4.3 overs. The interruption persisted for more than two hours, disrupting the flow of the game.

When play resumed, Mustafizur Rahman showcased his bowling prowess by dismissing Finn Allen for just nine runs and Chad Bowes for one in successive overs. The rain had truncated the game into a 42-overs-a-side contest, intensifying the pressure on both teams.

Mustafizur and Nasum Shine

Young and Nicholls managed to repair the damage caused by the rain delay, but Mustafizur struck again by trapping Nicholls leg-before for a respectable 44. Nasum Ahmed, the left-arm spinner, soon removed Young and Rachin Ravindra, halting New Zealand’s progress in its tracks.

It’s worth noting that Young had a stroke of luck when he survived an lbw appeal that Bangladesh chose not to review when he was on 18 runs. Tom Blundell and Cole McConchie were at the crease, both on eight runs, when rain halted New Zealand’s innings for the second time.

Mustafizur Rahman finished with impressive figures of 3-27, while Nasum Ahmed claimed 2-21, demonstrating their crucial roles in Bangladesh’s bowling attack.

Upcoming ODIs

The disappointment of the abandoned first ODI will undoubtedly linger, but cricket fans can look forward to the second and third ODIs, which are scheduled to be played at the same ground on September 23 and 26. New Zealand will be keen to break their streak, as they haven’t won an ODI series in Bangladesh in the last 15 years. Their last two series against the hosts in 2010 and 2013 resulted in losses.

Both Bangladesh and New Zealand will be using this series as their final preparation before the highly anticipated World Cup, set to kick off in neighboring India on October 5. With the World Cup on the horizon, teams will be eager to fine-tune their strategies and assess their strengths and weaknesses.

This article has been sourced from a syndicated news agency feed and has not been edited by Smartkhabrinews staff. (Source: AFP)

Summary:

The first one-day international (ODI) between Bangladesh and New Zealand in Dhaka was abandoned due to persistent rain. New Zealand’s innings were halted at 136/5 in 33.4 overs. Will Young was the top scorer for New Zealand with 58 runs. Mustafizur Rahman and Nasum Ahmed were standout performers with the ball. The second and third ODIs are scheduled for September 23 and 26. New Zealand aims to break a 15-year winless streak in Bangladesh. This series serves as the final preparation for both teams before the World Cup in India on October 5.