New Zealand reached 100-2 after 10 overs of the first T20I against Bangladesh at the Bir Shrestha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium in Chattogram on Monday, after hosts captain Litton Das won the toss and chose to field. Katene Clarke and Dane Cleaver built the total with a strong powerplay of 61-1, before Rishad Hossain removed Cleaver lbw for 99-2 in the 10th over. Bangladesh had earlier picked up the first wicket through a Towhid Hridoy run-out.
The powerplay set the tone. Shariful Islam conceded 11 runs in the opening over, including two wides and two boundaries to Clarke. Tanzim Hasan Sakib picked up a run-out chance in his first over when Clarke’s miscall left Tim Robinson short at the non-striker’s end following a direct throw from Hridoy, reducing New Zealand to 11-1 in the second over.
New Zealand recovered quickly. Cleaver ended the same over with a four, then Tanzim went for 14 runs in the fourth over as both batters hit out. Parvez Hossain missed another run-out opportunity with a throw that struck the stumps but failed to beat the batter, and Clarke and Cleaver each struck a boundary in the final powerplay over.
Rishad broke the stand just before the 10-over mark. His lbw dismissal of Cleaver at 99-2 gave Bangladesh their first bowling wicket and slowed a partnership that had put the visitors ahead of a standard T20 scoring rate. Clarke remained unbeaten on 25 at the end of the powerplay, with Cleaver on 33 before he fell.
Bangladesh entered the series without three senior fast bowlers. The selectors rested Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana for the first two matches, which opened the door for Ripon Mondal’s return. Mondal has previously played three matches for Bangladesh at the 2023 Asian Games, and this series is his clearest route back to the senior side.
The New Zealand team sheet also included two debutants. Nathan Smith and Matthew Fisher both made their T20I debuts in Chattogram.
