In the 1st game of the T20I series between New Zealand and Bangladesh, Shamim Hossain hit a marvellous shot 180° in the opposite direction off the bowling of Nathan Smith. The shot went viral on social media as people started to hail him as a reincarnation of Ab de Villiers. The shot was simply too good as it was a short ball and he played it straight behind him, without even bothering to look at the ball. Shamim Hossain has some innovative shots in his arsenal and he pulled off a brilliant one. That is the kind of batting that modern T20 batters have adopted and they have identified a way to find the boundary with any ball.
Bangladesh won the match by 6 wickets and it was a dominant victory for the side. The New Zealand batters were off to a great start in the 1st innings but they weren't able to carry the momentum throughout the innings. Despite the early flourish, the Bangladesh bowlers were able to find their way back into the game. The chase wasn't the most difficult of run chases for Bangladesh as they chased the total in 18 overs. Shamim Hossain and Emon finished off the game for the side and it was rather a commanding victory.
Bangladesh cruise to victory as Hridoy’s fifty and late cameos seal chase
The New Zealand side were given the chance to bat first and they knew that they had to put up a decent score on board. Katene Clarke scored a fine half-century to start the innings and he was accompanied by Dane Cleaver, who also played a fine hand. From then on the Kiwi batters didn't generate any sort of momentum as the wickets kept on tumbling. Rishad Hossain bowled a brilliant spell as he picked up 2 wickets and conceded just 32 runs. They ended up with a total of 162 on board and the Bangladesh side had a relatively easy chase in their hands.
In the 2nd innings of the game, Bangladesh did not have any long-standing partnerships as such, but they had some impactful cameos. Hridoy was the only batter who scored a half-century for his side and he laid the foundation for the perfect run chase. He was supported by Emon who scored 28 runs off just 14 balls and it was an important knock. Shamim Hossain scored a quickfire knock of 31 off just 13 balls but he stole the spotlight with his unbelievable shot behind the wicket-keeper. Tawhid Hridoy was awarded the Player of the Match award for his match-winning knock of 51 off 27 balls.
The Bangladesh side has taken the lead in the series and they will be confident that they can win the series from here on. New Zealand will have plenty of factors to look into and they will be hopeful that they can bounce back in the next game.
