New Delhi: New Zealand Neil Broom batsman put in a defiant stand for the Kiwis by scoring his maiden run-a-ball century against Bangladesh in the second one-day international in Nelson on Thursday.
Broom remained unbeaten at 109 to guide his side to a respectable 251 after they were in all sorts of trouble earlier in their innings.
It was a good toss to win for Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza who needs a victory to keep the three-match series alive after New Zealand won the first ODI by 77 runs.
He put New Zealand into bat to make the most of the heavy overcast conditions. When the clouds cleared and the pitched flattened out Bangladesh maintained the pressure.
Only Broom, back in the New Zealand side after nearly seven years in the wilderness, and whose previous best was 71, was able to offer any resistance.
His 109 off 107 deliveries included three sixes and eight fours. He offered only one chance when dropped by debutant wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan in the penultimate over.
Mashrafe had Bangladesh in charge from the start when removed Martin Guptill with the third ball of the match.
He also dismissed the big-hitting Colin Munro for three in the middle of the innings and came back to remove Lockie Ferguson at the tail.
Taskin Ahmed dismissed Kane Williamson (14) for the second successive match and first ODI century-maker Tom Latham struggled to 22 before he fell lbw to Shakib Al Hasan leaving New Zealand 47-3 in the 14th over.
Jimmy Neesham added a quick 28 in a 51-run stand with Broom for the fourth wicket and Luke Ronchi was New Zealand’s second highest scorer with 35 when adding 64 with Broom for the sixth wicket.
For Bangladesh, Mashrafe took three for 49 while Taskin Ahmed and Shakib Al Hasan both took two for 45.
PTI