Martin Guptill celebrates after scoring his 16th ODI century
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Martin Guptill scored his second consecutive hundred as New Zealand cruised to an eight-wicket win over Bangladesh in the second ODI in Christchurch.
Choosing to bowl first, Trent Boult got an early breakthrough for New Zealand as he removed Liton Das for one run.
Tamim Iqbal, who opened the batting with Liton, only made five runs before he was trapped lbw off the bowling of Matt Henry.
Soumya Sarkar scored 22 runs before he was caught by Ross Taylor in the slip cordon off the bowling of Colin de Grandhomme.
Mushfiqur Rahim didn’t fare much better as he was clean bowled by Lockie Ferguson for 24, while Mahmudullah was caught behind off the bowling of Todd Astle for seven runs.
Mohammad Mithun and Sabbir Rahman halted New Zealand’s charge with a 75-run partnership before Mithun was clean bowled by Astle for 57, which came off 69 balls and included seven boundaries and a six.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz was the next to go, while Sabbir ended up making 43 before he was dismissed by Ferguson.
With Mohammad Saifuddin and captain Mashrafe Mortaza being removed in quick succession, Bangladesh were bowled out for 226.
Ferguson was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Astle and James Neesham snapped up two wickets apiece. As for Boult, Henry and De Grandhomme, they chipped in with one wicket each.
Chasing 227 to win, New Zealand got off to a solid start before Henry Nicholls was caught by Liton at deep square leg off the bowling of Mustafizur Rahman for 14.
Guptill and captain Kane Williamson steadied the ship with a 143-run partnership, during which Guptill surpassed his hundred, before he was caught by Liton at deep midwicket off the bowling of Mustafizur for 118, which came off 88 balls and included 14 boundaries and four sixes.
That was to be Bangladesh’s last taste of success for the remainder of the match as Williamson and Ross Taylor forged an unbeaten 41-run stand to lead the Black Caps to victory with 83 balls to spare.
Williamson finished on 65, which came off 86 balls and included three boundaries, while Taylor remained undefeated on 21, which came off 20 deliveries and included three boundaries.
Mustafizur was the only bowler to take any wickets.
Guptill was named Man of the Match.