Published: 03:09 PM, 29 April 2026
We needed runs in the Powerplay: Litton Das
TawhidHridoy scored an unbeaten 51 off 27 balls to lead Bangladesh to a six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first T20I on Monday, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. -BCB
Bangladesh romped to a six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the opening T20 International and hand the hosts a 1-0 lead in the three-match series at BirShresthaShaheed Flight Lieutenant MatiurRahman Stadium on Monday. However, skipper Litton Das said that top order batters needed more runs in the powerplay overs. He also insisted the wicket was not easy to bat.
Middle-order batter TawhidHridoy scored an unbeaten 51 off 27 balls to lead Bangladesh to a six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first T20.
Bangladesh captain Litton Das praised the middle order for executing the chase on a surface that became increasingly challenging as the match progressed.
"A total of 183 is a big total at this ground because the wicket was not that easy to bat on; it was slow during the change of innings," Litton said. "The way Emon, Hridoy, and Shamim batted made it look easy, but it really wasn't."Litton said after the match.
"The way Emon, Hridoy and Shamim batted made it look easy, but it really wasn't," Litton said.
Chasing 183, Bangladesh rode on Hridoy's calculated aggression to reach 183-4 in just 18 overs, negating New Zealand's competitive total of 182-6 built around identical 51 from Dane Cleaver and Katene Clarke.
After Bangladesh reached 77-2 in the 10th over, Hridoy and ParvezHossainEmon shifted the match's momentum. The pair combined for a rapid 57-run partnership off just 28 deliveries.
Hridoy remained unbeaten on 51 off 27 balls, hitting two fours and three sixes. He stitched together two crucial partnerships-57 runs with ParvezHossainEmon for the fourth wicket and an unbroken 49 with ShamimPatwari for the fifth-to steer the side home comfortably.
"Yeah, very good to bat. I was thinking about the situation and tried to execute accordingly. I felt we needed runs at that time, which is why I attacked. Shamim played extremely well. He came in and played tremendous cricket," player of the match Hridoy said.
Leg-spinner IshSodhi, the only member in New Zealand's squad for Bangladesh series from their World Cup campaign led the side's bowling effort with 2-40, helping reduce the hosts to 77-3 in the 11th over and briefly raising hopes of a comeback.
However, Hridoy's counterattack, aided initially by Emon's brisk 28 off 14 balls and later by Patwari's unbeaten 31 off 13, brought the required rate under control.
Earlier, Clarke and Cleaver shared an 88-run stand for the second wicket after opener Tim Robinson was run out for a duck in the second over following Bangladesh captain Liton Das had New Zealand put into bat first.
Leg-spinner RishadHossain who was the stand out bowler for Bangladesh, claiming 2-32, removed both of the set batters in consecutive overs to stall the progress.
Bangladesh's pace trio of Shoriful Islam, TanzimHasanSakib and debutant Ripon Mondol were initially wayward but pulled things back after the breakthrough. Tanzim dismissed Bevin Jacobs to leave the visitors under pressure.
Stand-in captain Nick Kelly, leading in the absence of injured Tom Latham, steadied the innings before a brief interruption due to bad light.
Following the break, Josh Clarkson provided late impetus with an unbeaten 27 off 14 balls to guide New Zealand to a challenging total.
Despite the late surge, New Zealand's total proved insufficient as Hridoy's composed yet aggressive knock sealed a commanding win for Bangladesh.
