Williamson fires New Zealand to easy win over Bangladesh in T20 opener

A sparkling knock from New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has powered New Zealand to an easy six-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first Twenty20 International.

Electing to bat first, Bangladesh managed a below-par 141 for 8 riding on a gritty half-century from Mahmudullah at McLean Park in Napier on Tuesday.

The tourists once again put up a poor show with the bat as their toporder cheaply surrendered before Mahmudullah showed resolve.

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and his men then staged a good fight early in New Zealand’s chase. They raise Bangladesh hopes by reducing the hosts to 62 for 4 in the 11th over.

But Williamson (73 off 55 balls) then paired with Colin de Grandhomme (41 off 22 balls) for an unbroken 81-run partnerhip , off just 47 deliveries, to coast to the win with two overs to spare.

While Williamson and de Grandhomme did appear to be in control as the overs ticked down, the chase looked nervy until they took 17 runs from the 16th over bowled by Soumya Sarkar.

Williamson smashed five boundaries and two sixes on his way to scoring his sixth T20I half-century, in the process becoming the fourth New Zealand batsman to score 1000 T20I runs.

De Grandhomme’s cameo contained three fours and as many sixes.

Rubel Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman each picked up a wicket for Bangladesh.

Earlier, Mahmudullah returned to form by cracking a gritty half-century.

But Bangladesh were put the sword early on by debutant pacers Lockie Ferguson (3-32) and Ben Wheeler (2-22) who reduced them to 30 for 4.

After opener Imrul Kayes was dismissed for a duck Tamim Iqbal (11), Sabbir Rahman, Shakib got starts but could not stretch their innings.

Soumya Sarkar continued his poor form and got out for a golden duck.

Mahmudullah then dug deep and struck a 47-ball 52 smashing three boundaries and as many sixes to help the Tigers post a respectable total on the scoreboard. He

Mosaddek Hossain (20 off 17 balls) also played a good hand down the order.

But Bangladesh, who have never beaten New Zealand in a T20, were left ruing the fact that 30 runs more from the top order on a good paced wicket with short square boundaries may have changed things in New Zealand’s chase.

Ferguson, making his international Twenty20 debut, had taken two wickets in his first two balls but was denied the hat-trick when Mahmudullah clamped down on the 147 kph inswinging yorker.

He eventually fooled the right hander in the final over with a slower delivery.

The teams now head to Mt Maunganui for the remaining two games on Jan 6 and Jan 8.

Brief scores:

Bangladesh: 141/8 in 20 overs (Tamim 11, Imrul 0, Sabbir 16, Shakib 14, Soumya 0, Mahmudullah 53, Mosaddek 20, Mashrafe 1, Nurul 7*, Rubel 2*; Wheeler 2/22, Henry 1/44, Ferguson 3/32, de Grandhomme 1/23, Santner 1/20)

New Zealand: 143/4 in 18 overs (Broom 6, Williamson 73*, Munro 0, Anderson 13, Bruce 7, De Grandhomme 41*; Shakib 1/30, Mashrafe 0/22, Rubel 1/43, Mustafizur 1/21, Mosaddek 0/9, Soumya 0/18)

Result: New Zealand win by 6 wickets

Man-of-the-Match: Kane Williamson