December 27, 2007	Thursday	Zilhaj 16, 1428

AUCKLAND, Dec 26: Opener Jamie How guided New Zealand to a comfortable six-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first match of their One-day International series at Eden Park here on Wednesday.

How, who scored 90 on New Zealand’s recent tour of South Africa, was closing in on his maiden One-day International century but was caught by Aftab Ahmed off the bowling of Saqibul Hasan for 88.

New Zealand eventually cruised to the target, finishing on 203 for four, after dismissing the visitors for a disappointing 201. Scott Styris was on 25 not out and Mathew Sinclair on one with 7.2 overs remaining.

Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful had top scored for the visitors with a dashing 70 off 57 balls, though their target was disappointing after they suffered a slump that saw them lose four wickets for four runs in 20 balls.

New Zealand never seemed in danger of not achieving victory, with How combining with Brendon McCullum (40) and Peter Fulton (35) in useful partnerships before he was dismissed with the score on 173 for three, the win all but achieved.

All-rounder Styris thumped a six over long on to end the game in the 43rd over.

Saqibul took three for 56 for Bangladesh.

Earlier, Ashraful and opener Tamim Iqbal (50) combined in a 97-run partnership, and seemed destined for a big total with Ashraful in full counter attack mode.

He smashed Kyle Mills for two boundaries in his first full over at the crease then hit two more and a six off Mark Gillespie in the next over in a show of defiant contempt.

Tamim also grew in confidence and proceeded to hit two sixes and four boundaries before he was caught at deep backward point off Oram to leave the visitors well placed at 136 for three in the 27th over.

However, Bangladesh lost their way after that partnership, and their total of 201 could have been worse had Abdur Razzak (22 not out) not produced some lusty blows at the end.

Mills (three for 46), Gillespie (three for 27) and Jacob Oram (three for 36) shared the wickets for New Zealand.

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH:

Tamim Iqbal c Gillespie b Oram 50

Junaid Siddique c Gillespie b Mills 13

Aftab Ahmed c Fulton b Gillespie 8

Mohammad Ashraful c Fulton b Oram 70

Saqibul Hasan b Gillespie 6

Mehrab Hossain Jr c How b Oram 3

Mushfiqur Rahim c McCullum b Gillespie 0

Farhad Reza c Styris b Mills 4

Mashrafe Mortaza c Oram b Mills 17

Abdur Razzak not out 22

Shahadat Hossain run out 3

EXTRAS (W-4, NB-1) 5

TOTAL (all out, 46.3 overs) 201

FALL OF WKTS: 1-27, 2-39, 3-136, 4-150, 5-151, 6-151, 7-154, 8-170, 9-177.

BOWLING: Mills 10-2-46-3 (1w); Martin 10-1-35-0; Gillespie 8-0-27-3 (1nb); Vettori 9-0-48-0 (1w); Oram 8.3-1-36-3 (2w); Styris 1-0-9-0.

NEW ZEALAND:

J.M. How c Aftab b Saqibul 88

B.B. McCullum c and b Farhad 40

P.G. Fulton c Mehrab b Saqibul 35

S.B. Styris not out 25

L.P.R.L. Taylor lbw b Saqibul 8

M.S. Sinclair not out 1

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-2) 6

TOTAL (for four wkts, 42.4 overs) 203

FALL OF WKTS: 1-90, 2-157, 3-173, 4-194.

DID NOT BAT: J.D.P. Oram, D.L. Vettori, K.D. Mills, M.R. Gillespie, C.S. Martin.

BOWLING: Mashrafe Mortaza 8-0-37-0 (2w); Shahadat Hossain 8-0-29-0; Abdur Razzak 10-0-44-0; Farhad Reza 5-0-21-1; Saqibul Hasan 9.4-0-57-3; Mohammad Ashraful 2-0-12-0.

RESULT: New Zealand won by six wickets.

UMPIRES: G.A. Baxter (New Zealand) and P.D. Parker (Australia).

TV UMPIRE: E.A. Watkin (New Zealand).

MATCH REFEREE: B.C. Broad (England).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Jamie How.

SECOND MATCH: Napier, Dec 28.

THIRD MATCH: Queenstown, Dec 31.

—Agencies