Aftab Ahmed produced a record-breaking spell as Bangladesh gave New Zealand the jitters in the second one-dayer at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here on Friday. The 19-year-old became the first Bangladeshi to take a five-for in one-dayers as New Zealand struggled to overhaul a meagre total of 146 before taking a decisive 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
It took a patient 17 not out by all-rounder Chris Cairns to see the visiting side through in the company of Daniel Vettori (three) with three wickets and 5.2 overs to spare.
Ahmed, in the team as a batsman and with very little success as a bowler even in domestic cricket, put the seaming conditions under lights to superb use and finished with 5-31. The previous best in one-dayers by a Bangladeshi bowler was paceman Tapash Baisya's 4-16 against the West Indies in Kingstown earlier this year.
After openers Mathew Sinclair (62) and Nathan Astle (29) had given New Zealand a sound opening start of 74, Ahmed came on to torment the batsmen, especially with his in-swingers.
Hamish Marshall (two), Craig McMillan (seven) and Brendon McCullum (zero) were his lbw victims while Astle was caught at square-leg and Scott Styris (12) bowled as New Zealand were reduced to 125-6. "It was wonderful to see our team fight back so hard," said captain Habibul Bashar. "I am happy at the way we bowled and fielded but we definitely need to bat better and get some good starts." Earlier, the Kiwi seamers seemed to have all but wrapped up the match.
Styris bagged three wickets while Kyle Mills, James Franklin and Cairns took two each as the home side were bowled out in 43.4 overs after electing to bat.
Styris dismissed Mohammad Ashraful (17), Manjural Islam Rana (12) and Baisya (seven) after Mills and Franklin reduced the home side to 25-4. Mills, who took a career-best 4-14 in the first match, once again excelled with the new ball to strike two early blows with his out-swingers.
He removed opener Nafees Iqbal (zero), caught by Styris at second slip on the third ball of the innings, and had Ahmed (four) caught behind by McCullum just three deliveries later. Left-arm seamer Franklin also picked up a couple of wickets in his opening spell as Bashar (zero) and Omar (12) both played on.
Khaled Mashud (41) and Rajin Saleh (28) added 57 runs for the sixth wicket to lend respectability to the total from a precarious 51-5.
Mashud struck six boundaries during his 71-ball knock before he was caught by Chris Harris at cover off Cairns. Saleh too fell to Cairns as he edged a ball to McCullum.
The final one-dayer will be held here on Sunday.
BANGLADESH:
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Nafees Iqbal c Styris b Mills 0
Javed Omar b Franklin 12
Aftab Ahmed c McCullum b Mills 4
Habibul Bashar b Franklin 0
Mohammad Ashraful c Franklin b Styris 17
Rajin Saleh c McCullum b Cairns 28
Khaled Mashud c Harris b Cairns 41
Manjural Islam Rana lbw b Styris 12
Mohammad Rafique c Franklin b Vettori 4
Tapash Baisya c Sinclair b Styris 7
Nazmul Hossain not out 4
EXTRAS (LB-1, W-8, NB-8) 17
TOTAL 146
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M. Sinclair st Mashud b Rafique 62
N. Astle c Omar b Ahmed 29
H. Marshall lbw b Ahmed 2
S. Styris b Ahmed 12
C. McMillan lbw b Ahmed 7
C. Cairns not out 17
B. McCullum lbw b Ahmed 0
C. Harris c Hossain b Baisya 7
D. Vettori not out 3
EXTRAS (LB-4, W-4, NB-1) 9
TOTAL (for seven wickets) 148
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