New Zealand’s Ish Sodhi made history by becoming the first spinner from his country to take six wickets in an ODI match. This feat helped New Zealand secure an 86-run win in the second match of their three-match series against Bangladesh.
Sodhi also played a crucial role in the batting lineup for New Zealand, scoring 35 runs in the second ODI match. His career-best performance of 6-39 helped New Zealand achieve their first victory in Bangladesh since 2008. In the 46th over, Sodhi was run out by Hasan Mahmud while backing up at the non-striker’s end when he was on 17. However, Bangladesh captain Liton Das called him back.
Ish Sodhi later on expressed his gratitude towards Bangladesh for their sportsmanship after he was run out by Hasan Mahmud while backing up at the non-striker’s end. Bangladesh captain Liton Das called him back, which Sodhi described as a great gesture.
Sodhi then played a crucial role in helping New Zealand post a total of 254 before being all out in 49.2 overs. He then ran through Bangladesh’s top order with his destructive legspin. Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal stated that although the captain’s decision to call Sodhi back was a crunch moment, there was nothing wrong with the run-out as it was within the law.
The impressive performance for New Zealand came from wicketkeeper Tom Blundell who scored 68 off 66 balls, including six fours and one six. Henry Nicholls also contributed with 49 runs and shared 95-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Blundell which set the foundation for New Zealand’s innings.
Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman made an early impact, reducing New Zealand to 26-2 after they chose to bat first. Rahman dismissed Will Young for a duck and then took the key wicket of Finn Allen for 12.
For Bangladesh, debutant Syed Khaled Ahmed made an early impact by taking the wicket of Chad Bowes for 14, causing New Zealand to slump to 36-3 in the eighth over. Henry Nicholls and Tom Blundell then formed a partnership, playing with caution and aggression.
However, Khaled broke the partnership by dismissing Nicholls, who had hit six fours. Blundell then accelerated his scoring, reaching his fifty off 54 balls. Hasan Mahmud brought Bangladesh back in the game by dismissing Blundell with a beautiful yorker. The Bangladesh spinners then took control, claiming some quick wickets before Ish Sodhi propelled New Zealand past 250 runs.
Sodhi hit three sixes in his crucial knock before New Zealand innings succumbed to score of 254 which looked more than competitive on a slow surface. In the chase, pacer Kyle Jamieson removed Liton for 6, but Tamim Iqbal, who had recovered from back pain, kept Bangladesh on track by hitting boundaries at regular intervals.
Bangladesh was on a good track, maintaing a healthy run-rate in a modest chase. However, Ish Sodhi came to attack and from thereon, Bangladesh lost control of the chase and wickets started to tumble consistently.
Bangladesh went from 60/1 to 92/5 in just eight overs. Sodhi started with the wicket of Tanzid (16) and then took the crucial wicket of Tamim then Sodhi also removed Soumya Sarkar for a duck and got the better of Towhid Hridoy. New Zealand were all over Bangladesh in the second ODI due to spectacular performance by Sodhi.
Mahmudullah and Mahedi Hasan resisted, sharing a 42-run stand before Sodhi knocked out the latter for his maiden five-for. Cole McConchie had Mahmudullah caught by Finn Allen at short fine leg after he made a team-best 49. Despite Nasum Ahmed scoring 21, it only reduced the margin of defeat. The third and final ODI will take place on Tuesday.
