Nahid Rana once again tore through an opposition batting line-up with raw pace and hostility, but the young fast bowler insists there is no hierarchy to his success, saying every wicket holds the same value.
In Mirpur on Monday, Nahid produced another devastating spell against New Zealand national cricket team, finishing with figures of 5 for 32 in the second ODI. His fiery 10-over burst, much of it clocking above 140 km/h, helped Bangladesh secure a six-wicket win and level the series.
The conditions were harsh in the intense April heat, yet Nahid’s rhythm never dropped. It was his second five-wicket haul in quick succession, after his 5 for 24 against Pakistan earlier in March at the same venue.
New Zealand had made a steady start after choosing to bat, surviving the first seven overs unscathed. But Nahid changed the tone immediately in the eighth over, striking with his very first delivery as he produced a sharp inswinger to dismiss Henry Nicholls and break the opening stand.
From there, he maintained relentless pressure. In his first spell he conceded just 10 runs while taking two wickets in five overs, and continued his impact across subsequent spells to complete another five-wicket haul.
Remarkably, this is the second time within his first 10 international matches that Nahid has taken five wickets in an innings, making him only the second Bangladeshi bowler to achieve the milestone so early in his career.
Despite the growing attention around his performances, the 23-year-old refused to elevate one spell over another.
“All of them are special to me, and I value every wicket equally,” Nahid said. “For a bowler, there is no such thing as more or less important wickets. I’m grateful that I’m able to deliver impactful performances for the team. To me, every wicket feels the same.”
Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling effort saw New Zealand dismissed for 198, setting up a comfortable chase as the hosts drew level in the series with a commanding all-round performance.
