DHAKA, May 5, 2025 (BSS)—Bowlers shined in impeccably, led by pacer Syed Khaled Ahmed as Bangladesh A made an excellent start to three three-match unofficial ODI series against New Zealand A with a seven-wicket victory in the first game at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

Khaled claimed 3-27 to lead a strong bowling attack that helped second string Bangladesh wrap up New Zealand for just 147 after the visitors opted to bat first.

Bangladesh batters chased down the target with ease, reaching 149-3 in just 27.2 overs.

Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam also scalped 3-45 to play to second fiddle with Khaled to demolish New Zealand batting line up. Shoriful Islam and Ebadot Hossain, two other pacers, also played their part well by grabbing two wickets apiece.

The Bangladesh selectors formed the A team to face off New Zealand A mostly with the players who had played in national team recently. In contrast, New Zealand came here with a team, mostly formed with the rookie players.

As it was expected Bangladesh were all over the young New Zealand side when they chose to bat first in spicy condition. 

Shoriful gave the first breakthrough in the third over, trapping opener Dale Phillips for duck. Khaled then struck twice in his second over, removing Matthew Boyle and Muhammad Abbas, both for duck.

And two overs later, when Shoriful dismissed New Zealand A skipper Nick Kelly for duck, the visitors were reduced to 13-4 in 6.5 overs.

Amid the Bangladesh bowlers’ carnage, opener Rhys Mariu stood tall to keep the scoreboard rotating somehow. Tanvir Islam got rid of him after he scored 42 and New Zealand were reduced to 58-6.

But New Zealand still took the score closer to 150, thanks to a sensational counterattack from Dean Foxcroft who blasted 72 off 64 with six fours and four sixes.

Foxcroft and Mariu are the only two batters of the visiting team to reach double digits. A total of five batters were handed duck in New Zealand innings.

Parvez Hossain Emon made a rapid start as Bangladesh started chasing the total. Kristian Clarke who bagged 2-30, got the better of Emon after he made 24 off 12. Clarke also took the wicket of Naim Sheikh who scored 18.

Anamul Haque Bijoy and Mahidul Islam Ankon shared 55-run for the third wicket to take the side on the verge of a victory. Foxcroft, however, broke the partnership by dismissing Bijoy for 38 before Ankon and captain Nurul Hasan Sohan sailed the side home.

Ankon was unbeaten on 42 after hitting one four and three sixes in his 61-ball-knock while Sohan was on 20.

The second match is on Wednesday at the same venue.