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Bangladesh v New Zealand

A brief history of New Zealand and Bangladesh

Cricinfo staff
22-Nov-2007

Chris Cairns was too quick, too canny for Bangladesh © Getty Images
 
2001-02 in New Zealand
Bangladesh embarked on their second overseas tour but arrived in New Zealand without much hope or expectation of causing an upset. In truth, they were affected by the weather as much as their own lack of experience, hindered by one of the wettest summers in memory. And in such green conditions their batsman simply couldn't cope in the first Test against the pace of Shane Bond and cunning of Chris Cairns (7 for 53). Following on they were blitzed for 108, in spite of Al Sahariar's 53. Things didn't improve for them at Wellington, losing by an innings and 74, with Cairns, Bond and Daniel Vettori sharing the wickets to dismiss them for 132 and 135.
New Zealand 2 Bangladesh 0
2004-05 in Bangladesh
Bangladesh had high hopes of upsetting New Zealand after showing signs of improvement in recent series. They were in for a shock, comprehensively beaten in both the Tests and ODIs. That they were without their most experienced batsman, Habibul Bashar, didn't help matters either. James Franklin took 5 for 28 in their first innings at Dhaka, dismissing Bangladesh for 177. New Zealand replied with 402, bowling Bangladesh out for an embarrassing 126. Vettori stole 6 for 28 from 22 overs. In the second Test at Chittagong, Stephen Fleming cracked 202 in New Zealand's 545 for 6 declared. It was always going to be too much for the home side who were bundled out for 182 (Vettori 6 for 70) and a slightly gutsier 262 (Vettori 6 for 100). Scott Styris was named Player of the Series in the one-dayers with 125 runs at 62.50 and six wickets at 10 apiece.
Tests: New Zealand 2 Bangladesh 0
ODIs: New Zealand 3 Bangladesh 0
2007-08 in New Zealand
Mohammad Ashraful, the Bangladesh captain, said before departure that his team would not be easy prey for New Zealand. It turned out to be one of their most forgettable tours, trampled over in the three ODIs and two Tests that followed. In Queenstown, they slumped to their worst ever defeat in one-day internationals, losing with 264 balls to spare. No practice games were scheduled before the first Test at Dunedin's scenic University Oval and not surprisingly, they were rolled over for a paltry 137. New Zealand had their own top-order woes but Matthew Bell made good use of the opportunity to notch a ton in his comeback Test. Tamim Iqbal and Junaid Siddique made a spirited comeback when they added 161 for the first wicket with exquisite strokeplay but the support staff wilted as Bangladesh were bundled out within three days. The swing at Wellington's Basin Reserve gave little respite as Chris Martin picked up five wickets on the first day. Daniel Vettori and Stephen Fleming fell short of their respective centuries as New Zealand attained a lead of 250. That was more than sufficient as Bangladesh slid to an innings defeat with more than two sessions left on the third day.
Tests: New Zealand 2 Bangladesh 0
ODIs: New Zealand 3 Bangladesh 0
2008-09 in Bangladesh
New Zealand were seriously tested by an improved Bangladesh on a tour where they just about finished the better side. The performances underpinned the value of Daniel Vettori to his national team and he continued to be, by a distance, his country's best player in the tours that followed. Bangladesh found a highly reliable allrounder in Shakib Al Hasan, who, not too long after, was ranked No.1 in ODIs. The tour began with a major setback for the visitors, who were beaten comfortably by seven wickets in the first ODI. But they hit back, winning the series 2-1, sparing themselves an embarrassment. The Tests were more closely fought. Had it not been for Vettori's guarded 76 in the first Test in Chittagong, Bangladesh would have run close to beating a prominent Test-playing side for the first time. They had set 317 for victory, and New Zealand achieved it with three wickets left to clinch the series with the second Test marred by rain.
Tests: New Zealand 1 Bangladesh 0
ODIs: New Zealand 2 Bangladesh 1
2009-10 in New Zealand
The Bangladesh batsmen's struggles against seam made their return trip to New Zealand a one-sided affair. The tour opener, a Twenty20 mismatch in Hamilton, set the tone for the rest of thr tour, with the visitors folding for 78. Bangladesh kept improving during the course of the three ODIs - a 146-run drubbing in Napier was followed by a five-wicket reversal in Dunedin. The batsmen finally got into the groove in the final one-dayer in Christchurch, opener Imrul Kayes striking a pleasing century as they scored 241 for 9. It was however not enough to deny the hosts a 3-0 sweep of the series, though they lost seven wickets in a nervous chase. The Test match in Hamilton underlined everything that was wrong with the Bangladesh side, especially while playing abroad - the bowlers conceded ground after reducing New Zealand to 158 for 5, as Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum scored big centuries. Bangladesh's batsmen then showed plenty of fight, Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah leading the way as they raised a respectable 408. The top order, however, failed to turn up for the fourth innings and at 78 for 5, chasing 404, only one result was possible. Shakib then played a blinder, batting with refreshing freedom for 100 off 129 balls. It was too little too late though, as New Zealand prevailed by 121 runs.
Tests: New Zealand 1 Bangladesh 0
ODIs: New Zealand 3 Bangladesh 0
Twenty20s: New Zealand 1 Bangladesh 0