New Zealand Vs Bangladesh 1st T20I: Devon Conway and Ish Sodhi shines as New Zealand beats Bangladesh by 66 runs

After Devon Conway’s unbeaten 92-run knock, a sublime bowling performance by Ish Sodhi directed New Zealand to a huge 66-run win against Bangladesh in the first T20I on Sunday.

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A magnificent 105-run partnership between Devon Conway and Will Young powered New Zealand to a total of 210 runs, after which Kiwi bowlers restricted Bangladesh to 144 runs. Through this win, New Zealand took a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series.

Chasing the target of 211 runs, Bangladesh's opener Mohammad Naim started with all foot on the accelerators as the team scored 16 runs off the first two overs. However, the first wicket fell in the 3rd over as Tim Southee dismissed Liton Das, who scored 4 runs.

In the fifth over, Lockie Ferguson dismissed Mohammad Naim who had scored 27 runs. After this, the whole trajectory of the game shifted towards New Zealand’s side as Bangladesh lost wickets at regular and quick intervals.

Ish Sodhi grabbed two wickets in the sixth over and dismissed two players again in his next over which completely demolished the visitors. At the completion of eight overs, Bangladesh’s score was 59 runs at the loss of 6 wickets.

From there on, Mohammad Saifuddin and Afif Hossain took charge of the chase and formed a 63-run partnership before Lockie Ferguson dismissed Afif Hossain to break the growing partnership. 

In the final over, Mohammad Saifuddin scored 10 runs which took Bangladesh to 144 runs in 20 overs.

Earlier, opting to bat first, New Zealand didn't start very well as Finn Allen went back to the pavilion in the very first over of the innings without scoring any run. After Finn Allen departed, Martin Guptill was joined by Devon Conway. They both played superbly and took the team over the 50-run mark in the seventh over but in that over itself, Nasum Ahmed dismissed Martin Guptill. Martin Guptill scored 35 runs.

Then, Will Young and Devon Conway stitched a magnificent partnership and put New Zealand in control. Both of them hammered fours and sixes at regular intervals and took the score past 100 runs in the 12 over for New Zealand. Both the batsmen kept hitting boundaries and formed a 105-run partnership, taking their individual scores past 50 runs.

Mahedi Hasan provided Bangladesh the much-needed breakthrough after he dismissed Will Young at the score of 53 runs in the 17th over. 

In the death overs, Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips hit Bangladesh bowlers everywhere in the field and took the team’s total to 210 runs. Devon Conway scored unbeaten 92 runs facing just 52 balls while Glenn Phillips played a superb knock of 24 runs from just 10 deliveries.