Friday, February 05, 2010

Cricket: Black Caps punish ill-disciplined visitors

New Zealand made light work of Bangladesh to win their Twenty20 cricket international by 10 wickets in Hamilton tonight.

The result was a foregone conclusion once the tourists were rolled for just 78 in 17.3 overs at Seddon Park.

The home side had no need to rush but still passed their target in 36 minutes without losing a wicket in 8.2 overs after dangerous opener Brendon McCullum made Bangladesh pay heavily for an early fielding blemish.

McCullum smacked 56 not out off 27 balls while his partner Peter Ingram marked his international debut with a supportive 20 not out off 23 deliveries.

The tourists did not help themselves with some ragged fielding, dropping catches in the deep off McCullum, on eight, and Ingram when the newcomer was on 11.

Bangladesh batted as if they had just got off the plane, which they did three days ago to begin a short tour also featuring three one-day internationals and a one-off test.

They were guilty of taking the freedom given them by the abbreviated format to the extreme and did not allow themselves any time to settle before seeking the boundary.

What followed was largely a series of mishits and airshots against a disciplined bowling attack, superbly led by New Zealand captain Dan Vettori, honed to the Twenty20 format after a month playing for their provinces.

The early overs were uneventful save for some hopeful hitting by opener Tamim Iqbal, who reached 14 before gloving a catch to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum.

The die was cast as early as the seventh over as Bangladesh self destructed to be 42 for five after losing four wickets for five runs in nine balls.

Canny bowling changes by Vettori saw himself, seamer James Franklin and offspinner Nathan McCullum pick up wickets in their very first overs.

Left-arm spinner Vettori toyed with the batsmen and ended with the exceptional figures of three for six off four overs, while McCullum, seamer Jacob Oram and fast bowler Daryl Tuffey all picked up two wickets apiece at cheap cost.

None of the Bangladeshis impressed with the bat, with all of them struggling to time the ball.

Raqibil Hasan, at No 8, topscored with 18 off 13 balls but the damage had been done well before then.

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