An unprecedented fifty from Bangladesh’s opener Soumya Sarkar has propelled the team to a respectable total in Nelson for their second ODI against New Zealand.
The left-handeder amassed 169 (151), including 22 fours and two sixes, despite falling short of selection for Bangladesh’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 squad and enduring a lackluster run in one-day internationals over the past two years.
The effort from the 30-year-old surpasses Sachin Tendulkar’s 163* against the Kiwis in Christchurch in 2009 to become the highest score by a Bangladesh men’s player away from home in an ODI and the highest by a player from the subcontinent in ODIs in New Zealand. Additionally, Bangladesh’s highest ODI score in New Zealand stands at 291 runs.
Bangladesh appeared to be in trouble after losing the toss and being given the opportunity to bat; they lost their first three wickets within the tenth over. During the reconstruction, Soumya also lost Towhid Hridoy (12), his fourth companion, but found assistance in wicket-keeper/batsman Mushfiqur Rahim, who contributed 45 (57) to a 91-run partnership.
Following Mushfiqur’s dismissal to Jacob Duffy (3/51 from 10 overs), Soumya increased his scoring rate to assist his team in surpassing 200 runs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz (19) and Tanzim Hasan Sakib (13) also made efforts to contribute to the total.
Mehidy was dismissed by Adithya Ashok, a leg-spinner making his inaugural ODI appearance for New Zealand. Despite concluding with figures of 1/63 from 10 overs, Ashok displayed remarkable prowess. William O’Rourke, a fellow youth, completed the match with 3/47 (9.5), securing all three wickets in the concluding over and preventing Soumya from surpassing the record held by Litton Das for the highest ODI score by a Bangladesh player (176 in Sylhet against Zimbabwe in 2020).
