Sarkar breaks Tendulkar’s record Agains NZ
2023.12.22
New Zealand won the second ODI against Bangladesh in Nelson despite opener Soumya Sarkar’s record-breaking innings.
The left-hander hammered 169 (151), hitting 22 fours and a couple of sixes, despite having a poor run in One-Day Internationals over the past two years and failing to be picked for Bangladesh’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 team.
The 30-year-old’s achievement surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s 163* against the Kiwis in Christchurch in 2009 to become the highest score by an ODI by a player from the subcontinent and the greatest score by a men’s player from Bangladesh playing away from home in New Zealand. Bangladesh’s best ODI score in New Zealand is 291 overall.
Bangladesh appeared vulnerable after losing the toss and being sent to bat, losing three of their first five wickets in less than ten overs. During the reconstruction, Soumya also lost Towhid Hridoy (12), his fourth partner. However, he was aided by Mushfiqur Rahim, a batter and wicketkeeper who scored 45 (57) in a partnership of 91.d.
Mushfiqur was dismissed by Jacob Duffy for 3/51 from 10 overs, but Soumya persisted in helping his team reach 200, increasing his scoring rate while Tanzim Hasan Sakib (13) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (19) tried to contribute.
Adithya Ashok, a leg-spinner making his ODI debut for New Zealand, removed Mehidy. Ashok looked excellent, even though he finished with stats of 1/63 from 10 overs. William O’Rourke, a fellow rookie, claimed all three wickets in the last over of the innings with a score of 3/47 (9.5). This kept Soumya from surpassing Litton Das’ record of the highest ODI score by a Bangladeshi player, which was 176 at Sylhet against Zimbabwe in 2020.
In response, New Zealand responded forcefully, chasing down the 292 mark with seven wickets remaining and 22 balls remaining.
Rachin Ravindra (45 from 33 balls) supported the top-order performance, but Will Young (89 from 94 balls) and Henry Nicholls (95 from 99 balls) led the way for the hosts.
In the 47th over, Tom Latham (34* from 32) and Tom Blundell (24* from 20) brought the chase to a close.
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