hero-image

Rubel Hossain's hat-trick floors New Zealand

Bangladesh cricketers congratulate teammate Rubel Hossain (3rd R) after the dismissal of New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor during the first one-day-international (ODI) cricket match between Bangladesh and New Zealand at the Sher-e Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on October 29, 2013 .

Bangladesh have gone 1-0 up in the three-match One Day International series against New Zealand, courtesy of a six-wicket haul from Rubel Hossain, which also included a hat-trick, to restrict the Kiwis to 162 in their pursuit of chasing a target of 266 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

Just when the visitors managed to recover from their early setback through a quick 61-run fourth wicket partnership between Grant Elliott and Corey Anderson, the medium-pace bowler wrecked the chase by picking up three wickets in three balls. The victims included a well-set Corey Anderson (46 off 31), Brendon McCullum (0) and James Neesham (0).

While Anderson was foxed by a slower delivery, McCullum sliced one straight to the fielder at backward-point whereas Neesham was caught down the leg side by the wicketkeeper. Kiwis, who were at a reasonable position with a score of 121-3 in 23.2 overs, suddenly found themselves in the middle of nowhere after the series of blows inflicted by Hossain.

As Kane Williamson was not fit enough to come to bat, the game ended when the Kiwis’ leading run-scorer Elliott (71 off 77) was dismissed by Hossain. The 23-year-old fast bowler’s figures read 5.5-0-26-6.

Earlier in the day, captain Mushfiqur Rahim (90 off 98) and Naeem Islam (84 off 115) put together a 154-run partnership for the fourth wicket to take the home team, which was jolted early in the innings by a good spell from Tim Southee and the run-out of Mominul Haque, from 25/3 in 6.3 overs to 179/4 in 36.3 overs. Neesham picked up four wickets for the Kiwis.

You may also like