In the second ODI between Bangladesh and New Zealand in Nelson, Soumya Sarkar played well, but unfortunately, New Zealand won the match.
Even though he hasn’t been performing well in ODIs for the past two years and didn’t make it to the Bangladesh squad for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, the left-handed batsman scored an impressive 169 runs (in 151 balls), including 22 fours and two sixes.
The 30-year-old player made history by achieving the highest score for a Bangladesh men’s player in an away ODI and the highest by any sub-continent player in New Zealand ODIs, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s 163* in Christchurch in 2009. The team’s total of 291 is also the highest ODI score for Bangladesh in New Zealand.
Soumya Sarkar has produced one of Bangladesh's greatest innings of all time in the second #NZvBAN ODI đ„
— ICC (@ICC) December 20, 2023
đ https://t.co/KV5CY0xN4q pic.twitter.com/5ijAX1bfyg
Bangladesh faced a tough situation after losing the toss and having to bat first. They struggled early, losing three wickets within the first 10 overs. Soumya Sarkar also lost his fourth partner, Towhid Hridoy (12), during the rebuilding phase. However, wicket-keeper/batsman Mushfiqur Rahim came to the rescue, contributing 45 runs (in 57 balls) in a partnership that added 91 runs.
Mushfiqur Rahim provides strong support to Bangladesh with a determined fifty. CWC23
After Mushfiqur Rahim got out to Jacob Duffy (who took 3 wickets for 51 runs in 10 overs), Soumya Sarkar continued to push, ensuring that the team crossed the 200-run mark. He increased his scoring rate, and efforts were also made by Mehidy Hasan Miraz (scoring 19) and Tanzim Hasan Sakib (scoring 13) to contribute.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz got out to Adithya Ashok, a debutant leg-spinner for New Zealand, who showed promise even though he ended up with figures of 1 wicket for 63 runs in 10 overs. Another young player, William O’Rourke, impressed by taking 3 wickets for 47 runs in 9.5 overs. Notably, he secured all three wickets in the final over of the innings, preventing Soumya Sarkar from surpassing Litton Das’ record for the highest ODI score by a Bangladesh player (176 in Sylhet against Zimbabwe in 2020).
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New Zealand responded strongly, successfully chasing the target of 292 with seven wickets remaining and 22 balls to spare.
Will Young, scoring 89 runs from 94 balls, and Henry Nicholls, scoring 95 runs from 99 balls, played key roles in leading the hosts. Rachin Ravindra also contributed with 45 runs from 33 balls in the top order.
Tom Latham, with an unbeaten 34 runs from 32 balls, and Tom Blundell, scoring 24 runs from 20 balls, successfully finished the chase in the 47th over.
