Cricket: Blackcaps coast to series-clinching victory in second ODI against Bangladesh

The Blackcaps have cruised to a seven-wicket win in the second one-day international against Bangladesh in Nelson on Wednesday to clinch the three-game series with a match to spare.

Opener Will Young continued his rich vein of form, backing up his century from Sunday's opener in Dunedin with 89 off 84 balls, while Henry Nicholls fell agonisingly shy of triple figures with 95 (99 balls), as the hosts clinically chased down their target of 292 with 22 balls remaining. 

The result was especially cruel for Bangladesh opener Soumya Sarkar, who bounced back from a horror day in the south with a magnificent knock of 169 from 155 balls - the second highest individual score in Bangladesh ODI history.

Leg spinner Adi Ashok was called in for his international debut at Mark Chapman's expense in the lone change to the New Zealand XI that won Sunday's rain-affected opener in Dunedin.

After being sent into bat, Bangladesh stumbled through the opening 10 overs, with Jacob Duffy striking twice to reduce them to 44/3 after 10 overs. 

Veteran Mushfiqur Rahiim then joined opener Soumya Sarkar to help rebuild the tourists' innings, the pair putting on a 91-run partnership for the fifth wicket to keep their side in the contest.

Duffy returned to break up the pairing, earning his third wicket by having Mushfiqur caught behind by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell for 45 in the 35th over. 

With their total sitting at 171/5, Soumya began to apply the accelerator, bringing up his third ODI century in a defiant response to his struggles in the opening match in Dunedin, when he was dismissed for a duck in the first over and went for a mammoth 63 runs in his six overs with the ball.

In the 44th over, Ashok claimed his first international ODI wicket, when he had Mehidy Hasan Miraz caught at backward point by Will Young. 

Sitting at 243/6 entering the final five overs, Soumya continued his charge, passing 150 for the first time in his career off just 144 balls.

He eventually departed in the 50th over courtesy of Will O'Rourke for a superb 169, during which he slammed 22 fours and a pair of sixes. 

O'Rourke claimed two more victims in an excellent final over, taking 2/3 as Bangladesh were dismissed for 291 – their highest ODI total in Aotearoa.  

The newcomer finished with 3/47 off his 9.5 overs, joined by Duffy's 3/51 as the stand-outs in the NZ bowling attack. Ashok (1/63 off 10), Josh Clarkson (1/30 off six) struggled to make inroads, while Adam Milne came in for some punishment (1/74 off 10).

The Blackcaps' reply was swift and accurate, as openers Will Young and Rachin Ravindra quickly warmed to their work. 

Fresh off his IPL payday, Ravindra looked in fine touch, blasting 45 runs off just 33 balls, including eight boundaries, before being taken in a sharp catch on the boundary by Rishad Hossain.

With Young picking right up where he left off in Dunedin, Henry Nicholls joined the fray to slot into the anchor role, as New Zealand's chase clicked into cruise control – the duo reaching a century partnership for the second wicket.

In the 30th over, Young was given out caught behind, before a review revealed there had been no hint of bat in his attempted leg glance that ended in wicketkeeper Mushifiqur's gloves.

Three overs later with 89 runs to his name, he offered a simple leading-edge return catch to Hasan Mahmud, momentarily halting the NZ procession with the score standing at 204/2. 

Nicholls appeared destined to notch his second ODI century, until he holed out to midwicket off the bowling of Shoriful Islam for 95 in the 41st over.

But Tom Latham (34no) and Tom Blundell (24no) combined to ensure there'd be no late-game nerves for the Kiwis, the latter hoisting a six to close out victory in style.

The third and final match of the series takes place in Napier on Saturday.

Bangladesh 291(Soumya 169, Rahim 45; O'Rourke 3/47, Duffy 3/51)  

New Zealand 296/3 (Nicholls 95, Young 89, Ravindra 45; Hasan Mahmud 2/57)  

The Blackcaps have cruised to a seven-wicket win in the second one-day international against Bangladesh in Nelson on Wednesday to clinch the three-game series with a match to spare.

Opener Will Young continued his rich vein of form, backing up his century from Sunday's opener in Dunedin with 89 off 84 balls, while Henry Nicholls fell agonisingly shy of triple figures with 95 (99 balls), as the hosts clinically chased down their target of 292 with 22 balls remaining. 

The result was especially cruel for Bangladesh opener Soumya Sarkar, who bounced back from a horror day in the south with a magnificent knock of 169 from 155 balls - the second highest individual score in Bangladesh ODI history.

Leg spinner Adi Ashok was called in for his international debut at Mark Chapman's expense in the lone change to the New Zealand XI that won Sunday's rain-affected opener in Dunedin.

After being sent into bat, Bangladesh stumbled through the opening 10 overs, with Jacob Duffy striking twice to reduce them to 44/3 after 10 overs. 

Veteran Mushfiqur Rahiim then joined opener Soumya Sarkar to help rebuild the tourists' innings, the pair putting on a 91-run partnership for the fifth wicket to keep their side in the contest.

Duffy returned to break up the pairing, earning his third wicket by having Mushfiqur caught behind by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell for 45 in the 35th over. 

With their total sitting at 171/5, Soumya began to apply the accelerator, bringing up his third ODI century in a defiant response to his struggles in the opening match in Dunedin, when he was dismissed for a duck in the first over and went for a mammoth 63 runs in his six overs with the ball.

In the 44th over, Ashok claimed his first international ODI wicket, when he had Mehidy Hasan Miraz caught at backward point by Will Young. 

Sitting at 243/6 entering the final five overs, Soumya continued his charge, passing 150 for the first time in his career off just 144 balls.

He eventually departed in the 50th over courtesy of Will O'Rourke for a superb 169, during which he slammed 22 fours and a pair of sixes. 

O'Rourke claimed two more victims in an excellent final over, taking 2/3 as Bangladesh were dismissed for 291 – their highest ODI total in Aotearoa.  

The newcomer finished with 3/47 off his 9.5 overs, joined by Duffy's 3/51 as the stand-outs in the NZ bowling attack. Ashok (1/63 off 10), Josh Clarkson (1/30 off six) struggled to make inroads, while Adam Milne came in for some punishment (1/74 off 10).

The Blackcaps' reply was swift and accurate, as openers Will Young and Rachin Ravindra quickly warmed to their work. 

Fresh off his IPL payday, Ravindra looked in fine touch, blasting 45 runs off just 33 balls, including eight boundaries, before being taken in a sharp catch on the boundary by Rishad Hossain.

With Young picking right up where he left off in Dunedin, Henry Nicholls joined the fray to slot into the anchor role, as New Zealand's chase clicked into cruise control – the duo reaching a century partnership for the second wicket.

In the 30th over, Young was given out caught behind, before a review revealed there had been no hint of bat in his attempted leg glance that ended in wicketkeeper Mushifiqur's gloves.

Three overs later with 89 runs to his name, he offered a simple leading-edge return catch to Hasan Mahmud, momentarily halting the NZ procession with the score standing at 204/2. 

Nicholls appeared destined to notch his second ODI century, until he holed out to midwicket off the bowling of Shoriful Islam for 95 in the 41st over.

But Tom Latham (34no) and Tom Blundell (24no) combined to ensure there'd be no late-game nerves for the Kiwis, the latter hoisting a six to close out victory in style.

The third and final match of the series takes place in Napier on Saturday.

Bangladesh 291(Soumya 169, Rahim 45; O'Rourke 3/47, Duffy 3/51)  

New Zealand 296/3 (Nicholls 95, Young 89, Ravindra 45; Hasan Mahmud 2/57)  

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