Sohan and Mahidul’s 225-run stand powers Bangladesh A to series win over New Zealand A
“Nurul Hasan Sohan and Mahidul Islam Ankon laid the foundation for victory with a 225-run partnership.”
Nick Kelly won the toss again, but this time, perhaps in a bid to change his team’s fortunes, the New Zealand A captain opted to bowl first. However, his bowlers couldn’t make use of the early morning moisture. Their erratic bowling was punished as both Sohan and Mahidul reached centuries. Later, the Kiwi batters failed to mount a serious response to the hosts’ massive total.
At the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, Bangladesh A defeated New Zealand A by 87 runs in the second one-day match. With one match still to go, the hosts have sealed the three-match series 2–0.
After remaining unbeaten on 42 in the first match due to a modest target, Mahidul made the most of batting first this time, crafting a brilliant 105-run knock. The 26-year-old middle-order batter impressed with his composure and strokeplay.
Sohan, who carried over his good form from the recently concluded Dhaka Premier League, was in aggressive mode. The Bangladesh A captain smashed his third century in the last nine matches, scoring a fluent 112 off just 101 balls, laced with seven fours and seven sixes.
Thanks to their record-breaking 225-run partnership for the fourth wicket, the hosts posted a formidable total of 344. This is Bangladesh A’s second-highest score in this format, only behind their 386/4 against Ireland Wolves in 2018.
In response, although Dale Phillips launched a counterattack early on, New Zealand A were bowled out for 257 in 43.1 overs, still 87 runs short, with 41 balls remaining.
Bangladesh’s three spinners—Mosaddek Hossain, Tanvir Islam, and Shamim Hossain—shared seven wickets between them.
Much like the first game, the Bangladeshi pacers found some early bounce and movement. But apart from the initial overs, the Kiwi bowlers struggled, conceding 26 extras through undisciplined bowling.
Parvez Hossain was caught at slip off a beautiful delivery from Christian Clarke in the fourth over. Coming in at No. 3, Anamul Haque looked uneasy against a few short balls but soon got going. He hit the first six of the match off Jack Foulkes and followed it up with a boundary over the bowler’s head. His opening partner Mohammad Naim Sheikh also struck two boundaries in the next over.
The pair added 73 off 56 balls for the second wicket, recovering well from the early loss. But both failed to convert their starts—Anamul was run out for 39 off 34 balls, and two overs later, Naim fell for 40 off 41 after hitting six fours.
Then came the marathon partnership between Mahidul and Sohan. While Mahidul took time to settle, Sohan batted fluently, hitting three sixes in three consecutive overs to keep the scoreboard moving.
Sohan reached his half-century in 53 balls with 3 sixes and 4 fours. Mahidul brought up his fifty in 68 balls.
After reaching fifty, both batters shifted gears. Mahidul smashed back-to-back sixes off Jayden Lennox and followed up with two boundaries off Clarke. Sohan joined the assault, lofting Lennox for a six.
Sohan was dropped on 80 by Foulkes at fine leg, and he made the most of it, hitting back-to-back sixes off Josh Clarkson in the very next over. He completed his seventh List A century in 92 balls.
Mahidul also got a life on 91 when Carter failed to hold on to a catch at point. He took no further chances and reached his century in 103 balls, needing just 35 deliveries to go from fifty to hundred.
Sohan departed before Mahidul completed his ton, ending their 193-ball stand—Bangladesh’s second-highest fourth-wicket partnership in this format, only behind the 276-run stand between Mominul Haque and Roshen Silva for Prime Doleshwar in the 2013 Dhaka Premier League, which remains a world record.
After Sohan’s dismissal, Bangladesh couldn’t quite accelerate as hoped and fell just short of 350.
But even 344 proved more than enough, thanks to the Bangladesh spinners.
Khaled Ahmed, who impressed with the new ball in the first game, was off-color this time. Shariful Islam and debutant Rejaur Rahman Raja were also expensive.
Dale Phillips played aggressively after a cautious start. In the fifth over, he hit a six and two fours off Khaled. He then struck two more fours off Shariful and welcomed Tanvir into the attack with three boundaries. He raced to fifty in just 33 balls.
At the other end, Curtis Heaphy was struggling. Mosaddek broke the opening stand of 52 in 46 balls by removing Heaphy in the eighth over.
Phillips, however, kept attacking. He launched Tanvir for a massive six over long-on and added four more boundaries in the next two overs. New Zealand reached 70 in the Powerplay.
Shariful returned in the 15th over to remove the dangerous Phillips, who fell for 79 off 54 (14 fours, 2 sixes), caught at mid-on while going for a big shot.
Quick wickets followed—Matt Boyle, Joe Carter, and Nick Kelly all fell cheaply, leaving New Zealand A under pressure.
Clarkson, batting at No. 6, tried to fight back with 34 off 33 balls (4 fours, 1 six), but Tanvir bowled him before he could do more damage.
Mitchell Hay, who scored 99 off 78 against Pakistan last month, tried to steady one end but eventually succumbed to pressure. He was dismissed by a sharp catch from Anamul at wide long-on after scoring 38 off 44 balls (2 fours, 2 sixes).
No. 9 batter Clarke remained unbeaten on 39 off 36 but couldn’t change the outcome.
Mosaddek was the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh with 3 wickets, while Shariful, Tanvir, and Shamim grabbed two each. Raja, though expensive, took one wicket on debut.
The final match of the series will be played on Saturday at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium’s outer ground.
Match Summary
- Bangladesh A: 344/5 in 50 overs (Mahidul 105, Sohan 112, Naim 40, Anamul 39; Clarke 2/71)
- New Zealand A: 257 all out in 43.1 overs (Phillips 79, Hay 38, Clarkson 34; Mosaddek 3/50, Shariful 2/29, Tanvir 2/55, Shamim 2/9)
Result: Bangladesh A won by 87 runs
Series: Bangladesh A leads the 3-match series 2–0
Player of the Match: Nurul Hasan Sohan
