NZ vs BAN Highlights, 1st ODI Match: New Zealand go 1-0 up after 26-run win over Bangladesh

Will O'Rourke to Saif Hassan, Back of a good length, just outside off, Saif Hassan drives it crisply but straight into the hands of the extra cover fielder.

Will O'Rourke to Saif Hassan, Good-length delivery, on off, Saif Hassan blocks it to the leg side.

Will O'Rourke to Saif Hassan, On a length, on off, Saif Hassan fends it away.

Will O'Rourke to Saif Hassan, FOUR! Not entirely from the middle of the bat, but finds the gap. Just outside off, on a hard length, not much movement on the delivery. Saif Hassan hangs back and punches it down from the outer part of his bat. The ball bounces and penetrates the gap between cover and point for four runs.

Nathan Smith to Litton Das, Full and outside off, Litton Das leans forward and drives it through cover for a couple of runs.

Nathan Smith to Litton Das, Back of a length, angling in, around off, Litton Das steers it to point.

Nathan Smith to Litton Das, Yorker now, just outside off, Litton Das digs it away to point.

Nathan Smith to Litton Das, A beauty from Smith first up to Das. Right in the channel, on a hard length, around off. Litton Das looks to block this within the line but the ball shapes away and Das is beaten on the outside.

Golden duck for Shanto and Litton Das walks out next to replace Shanto in the middle. Smith is on a Hat-Trick.

Nathan Smith to Najmul Hossain Shanto, OUT! BOWLED 'EM! Nathan Smith is on a Hat-Trick as Shanto departs for a golden duck. Another beautiful delivery from Smith, pitching it a bit fuller than the last delivery, on middle and off. Najmul Hossain Shanto prods halfway to flick it across the line, but the ball skids through after pitching on the deck. The ball goes past the toe end of the bat and strikes the off stump. 

Najmul Hossain Shanto walks out next in the middle for Bangladesh. 

Nathan Smith to Tanzid Hasan, OUT! CASTLED! Now that's what you call a neat delivery. Nathan Smith scoots from over the wicket to the left-hander and pitches it on a good length, on leg and middle, but nips it back. Tanzid Hasan steps out of the crease and looks to slog it, but gets beaten on the delivery. It finds the gap between the bat and pad and uproots the leg pole from its position.

Will O'Rourke to Tanzid Hasan, Back of a length, outside off, Tanzid cuts it through backward point for a single.

Will O'Rourke to Tanzid Hasan, Back of a length, on the stumps, Tanzid Hasan defends it to cover.

Will O'Rourke to Saif Hassan, Yorker, angling in, Saif Hassan jams it to deep sqaure leg for an easy single.

Will O'Rourke to Saif Hassan, FOUR! That's a cracking shot from Hassan! Hard-length delivery, offering a lot of width outside. Saif Hassan takes a step across the stump and swings his blade to cut it toward the deep point region. The deep backward fielder sprints to his right and offers a dive, but fails to save the boundary.

Will O'Rourke to Saif Hassan, On the stumps, good length, Saif Hassan blocks it to cover.

Will O'Rourke to Saif Hassan, Full, on middle, Saif Hassan defends it down.

Will O'Rourke to Saif Hassan, FIVE WIDES! O'Rourke will have to control his swing. He bangs a bouncer, pitching it just outside off, and swings it wide and away from the batter. Saif Hassan looks to upper cut it, but fails to connect. The keeper dives with full stretch to his right, but still fails to save it, as the ball dribbles to the deep third fence.

Nathan Smith to Saif Hassan, Good-length delivery, on the stumps, Saif Hassan looks to play it to the off side, but gets the inside edge and the ball rolls to fine leg. Single taken.

Nathan Smith to Saif Hassan, Back of a length, on middle, Saif Hassan blocks it down.

Nathan Smith to Saif Hassan, Full, around off, Saif Hassan pushes it to cover.

Nathan Smith to Saif Hassan, EDGED AND DROPPED! Good-length delivery, just outside off, Saif Hassan looks to poke at it but gets nicked on the outside edge. It's Henry Nicholls in the first slip who spills it away.

Nathan Smith to Tanzid Hasan, Appeal for LBW but turned down by the umpire! Full-length delivery, around the pads of the batter, Hasan fails to connect his flick and wears on the pad. It seems the pitching of the delivery is outside leg.

Nathan Smith to Tanzid Hasan, Fullish, on middle and leg, Tanzid Hasan defends it back to the bowler.

Blair Tickner will take the other new ball and operate from the other end. 

Will O'Rourke to Tanzid Hasan, Fullish, around off, Tanzid Hasan pushes it to extra cover for a single.

Will O'Rourke to Tanzid Hasan, WIDE! Fuller, wide outside off, beyond the tramline. Tanzid Hasan makes a leave at it. 

Will O'Rourke to Saif Hassan, On a hard length, outside off, Saif Hassan cuts it away from the backward point fielder and gets a single.

Will O'Rourke to Saif Hassan, Back of a length, outside off, Saif Hassan dabs it to backward point.

Will O'Rourke to Saif Hassan, FIVE WIDES! With that, Bangladesh are up and running. This is a good length delivery from Will O'Rourke, but angling it down the leg side, Saif Hassan misses his flick and the ball beats the left of the diving keeper. The ball dribbles away to the deep fine leg fence for a boundary.

Will O'Rourke to Saif Hassan, Back of a length, on the stumps, Saif Hassan rocks back and cuts it to backward point for a dot.

Will O'Rourke to Saif Hassan, On a length, around off, Saif Hassan nudges it to mid on.

Will O'Rourke to Saif Hassan, Will O'Rourke sprints from over the wicket, pitching it on the back of a length, outside off, Saif Hassan looks to push it away but gets beaten on the outside edge.

We are back for the second chapter to unfold! The camera pans on the New Zealand players huddling near the boundary rope, it seems skipper Tom Latham has a few words for his teammates before they disperse to take their fielding positions. The two umpires are marching toward the center of the park, and with a huge cheer from the home fans, the two Bangladeshi openers are now taking their stance on the crease. It's Saif Hassan pairing with Tanzid Hasan to open the inning for the Bangla Tigers. Will O'Rourke will have the new ball to start with the proceedings. Away we go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Foxcroft's gritty half-century rescues the Kiwis - After the fall of the fifth wicket, Dean Foxcroft walked to the crease and took matters into his own hands. Even as wickets tumbled around him, he stood firm against the Bangladesh bowling attack, bringing up a maiden ODI half-century in the process. However, just as he threatened to push New Zealand toward a truly formidable total, 23-year-old Nahid Rana delivered the decisive blow, dismissing Foxcroft in the 47th over to end his gutsy resistance. With a target of 248 to defend, the match is finely balanced. Bangladesh will look to lean on their experience in familiar home conditions, while New Zealand's young pace attack will need to strike early and keep the pressure on if they are to defend this total successfully. So folks, refill ur snacks and join us back for the chasing inning which will start sometime!

Bangladesh spinners choke Kiwis in middle overs - The momentum shifted decisively in the middle overs as Bangladesh's spinners exerted significant pressure. Rishad Hossain led the charge, claiming the crucial wicket of Will Young to break a sturdy 73-run partnership, while skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz stepped up to dismiss opposition captain Tom Latham. Hossain struck again shortly after, removing the well-set Nicholls to compound New Zealand's woes. These breakthroughs stifled the Black Caps' scoring momentum, as the hosts consistently found breakthroughs whenever a partnership began to take shape.

Nicholls steadies the ship after an early blow - After electing to bat first, New Zealand found the going tough on a typically slow Mirpur surface. Despite losing an early wicket, the innings was steadied by a resilient Henry Nicholls, who top-scored with a vital 68 off 83 balls. Nicholls provided much-needed stability, ably supported by Will Young's brisk 30, as the pair gave the Kiwis an impactful platform at the top of the order.

Game evenly poised - New Zealand have posted 247 runs on the board, and it is safe to say the game is evenly balanced. Much of the credit goes to Dean Foxcroft's late surge, which helped the team set a competitive total. Mehidy Hasan Miraz will be satisfied with his bowlers' collective effort, as they consistently applied pressure and were rewarded with wickets. Crucially, every bowler contributed, reflecting a disciplined team effort rather than any individual brilliance.

Taskin Ahmed to Nathan Smith, Full and around off, Nathan Smith drives this to covers for a couple. New Zealand ends up posting 247 for 8 after 50 overs. 

Taskin Ahmed to Nathan Smith, Good length, on off, Nathan Smith goes for a wild swing of his bat but misses and ends up jamming this around short leg off his pads.

Taskin Ahmed to Nathan Smith, WIDE! Full and way too wide off the tramline. Free Hit to continue. 

Taskin Ahmed to Jayden Lennox, NO BALL! Yorker, around leg, Jayden Lennox stays leg side and pushes this to extra cover for a run. The siren goes around signalling that Taskin Ahmed has overstepped. Free Hit to follow. 

Taskin Ahmed to Nathan Smith, Hard length, on off, Smith punches this to covers and takes a quick single.

Taskin Ahmed to Jayden Lennox, BYE! Back of a length, around middle and leg, Jayden Lennox misses out on the bat swing and by the time the keeper gathers this the batters cross for a bye.

Jayden Lennox walks out next for New Zealand. 

Taskin Ahmed to Blair Tickner, OUT! TIMBER! Another slower one from Taskin Ahmed, into the sticks. Blair Tickner swings all around it but fails to get any part of his bat behind the ball. The ball sneaks past the batter and rattles the timber.

Taskin Ahmed to Blair Tickner, WIDE! Back of the hand, slower one, around off, a bit outside the tramline. Blair Tickner leaves it. Wided.

Taskin Ahmed to Blair Tickner, Yorker, around off, Blair Tickner gets it away off the inner half of his bat through mid on and takes a brace.