Ish Sodhi made history on Saturday (Sep 23) by becoming the first New Zealand spinner to secure six wickets in a one-day international, playing a pivotal role in guiding the team to an 86-run triumph in the second match of the three-match series against Bangladesh in Mirpur, Dhaka. Sodhi's contribution extended beyond his exceptional bowling performance, as he also chipped in with a crucial 35 runs during his batting stint. His career-best figures of 6-39 played a significant role in New Zealand securing their first victory in Bangladesh since 2008, with the first match having been washed out due to weather conditions.
In the 46th over of the game, pace bowler Hasan Mahmud ran out Sodhi while he was backing up at the non-striker's end when he had scored 17 runs. However, Bangladesh captain Litton Das displayed sportsmanship by calling Sodhi back to continue his innings.
“You are competing to win games for your country so it can get a bit heated,” Sodhi said. “I think it was a great gesture by Bangladesh. They handled it really, really well. I was fortunate that they were able to call me back. I’d like to think I’d do the same thing if I was the bowler.”
Sodhi then helped the side post 254 before being all out in 49.2 overs and ran through Bangladesh’s top order in a gem of legspin.
“I don’t know what we would have done in the crunch moment but at that moment the captain thinks we should back him," Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal said. "But there is nothing wrong in it (the run out) because it is within the law.”
Wicketkeeper-batter Tom Blundell played a pivotal role for New Zealand, contributing a team-high 68 runs off 66 balls, including six fours and one six. Henry Nicholls also made a valuable contribution with 49 runs. The duo established a crucial 95-run partnership for the fourth wicket, setting a solid platform for their team's innings.
Bangladesh's pacer, Mustafizur Rahman, initially put New Zealand in trouble by reducing them to 26-2 after they chose to bat first. He dismissed Will Young for a duck and later claimed the wicket of Finn Allen for 12.
Debutant Syed Khaled Ahmed made an impact with the wicket of Chad Bowes (14), causing New Zealand to slump to 36-3 in the eighth over. However, Nicholls and Blundell steadied the ship with a combination of cautious and aggressive play. Khaled eventually broke their partnership when Nicholls was caught behind after hitting six boundaries.
Blundell then accelerated his scoring, reaching his fifty off 54 balls. However, Hasan Mahmud provided Bangladesh with a breakthrough by uprooting Blundell's stumps with a yorker.
Bangladesh's spinners took control of the game, claiming quick wickets before Sodhi played a crucial role in pushing New Zealand past the 250-run mark. Sodhi smashed three sixes in his innings before becoming the last batsman to be dismissed.
In the chase, New Zealand's pacer Kyle Jamieson removed Litton Das for 6, but Tamim Iqbal, returning from injury, kept Bangladesh in contention with regular boundaries. Tanzid Hasan also contributed with the bat, but Sodhi initiated a collapse that reduced Bangladesh from 60-1 to 92-5 in just eight overs.
Sodhi started with the wicket of Tanzid (16) and then dismissed Tamim Iqbal for 44 as the Bangladesh skipper attempted a sweep against a googly. Sodhi continued to shine by removing Soumya Sarkar for a duck and dismissing Towhid Hridoy for 4.
Mahmudullah and Mahedi Hasan provided some resistance with a 42-run partnership, but Sodhi completed his maiden five-wicket haul by dismissing Mahedi Hasan. Offspinner Cole McConchie had Mahmudullah caught by Finn Allen for a team-best 49.
Nasum Ahmed contributed 21 runs, but it couldn't prevent the Tigers from losing the match.
The third and final ODI of the series is scheduled for Tuesday (Sep 26).
