DUNEDIN, DECEMBER 17
Will Young's 105 and Tom Latham's 92 set the foundation for New Zealand's 44-run win over Bangladesh Sunday in the first one-day international which was reduced by rain to 30 overs per team.
Young and Latham's partnership of 176 for the third wicket provided the backbone of New Zealand's innings of 239-7 as it batted first after losing the toss and after a horror first over in which it lost World Cup star Rachin Ravindra and veteran Henry Nicholls for ducks.
Bangladesh's target was readjusted to 245 under the Duckworth Lewis system and it fell short, finishing its 30 overs at 200-9. Seamer Josh Clarkson took 2-24 on debut as one of New Zealand's key bowlers.
There were still tremors of concern for New Zealand as Amanul Haque's 43 from 39 balls and Afif Hossain's 38 from 28 balls at times seem to propel Bangladesh towards its winning target.
But New Zealand managed to snare wickets at key moments and came out on top in a match which, because of its delays, ended in gathering darkness.
Young and Latham's partnership was crucial and straddled two lengthy rain breaks which caused the New Zealand innings to be truncated. After each break the batsmen had to regroup and readjust their estimate of a realistic total.
"It was a funny old innings, coming on and off all the time," Young said. "Tommy and I set the platform early when the ball was doing a bit and the wicket was a bit tricky, then after the rain break, we knew we only had 10 overs to bat, so went out and had some fun."
The match already had been reduced to 46 overs per side when play started more than an hour late. The New Zealand innings was revised by rain to 40 overs after 13.5 overs when it was 63-2 and to 30 overs after 19 overs when it was 108-2.
After the second delay and with just over 10 overs left, Young and Latham came out swinging. They especially targeted the short, straight boundaries at both ends with booming drives or with ramps and scoops over the wicketkeeper's head.
Latham made the pace for much of the partnership, reaching his half century from 58 balls. Young made his half century from 61 balls but he stepped up his tempo after the second rain break and sped ahead of Latham.
His innings contained 14 fours and four sixes and when he was run out in the final over he had lifted his average in one-day internationals in New Zealand to 112.
Latham scored his 24th one-day international half century and finished with nine fours and three sixes.
Mark Chapman, who came to the crease after Latham, kept up the pace and made 20 runs from 11 balls with two sixes.
"We were a bit fortunate that Bangladesh used a lot of their front-line bowlers early, so when we came back out after the break, they had to make up some overs," Young said. "It was just whoever was on strike tried to clear the rope."
Many spectators at the University Oval would have come to watch Ravindra who was one of the stars of last month's World Cup in India. But he received a superb delivery from Shoriful Islam (2-28) which straightened on a perfect length, took the edge and flew to the keeper. Nicholls also was caught off a length ball which nipped away and carried to slip.
Ravindra later made a contribution with the ball, taking 1-20 from three overs and holding a good catch. Young also held a brilliant outfield catch to dismiss Shoriful for 5 late in the Bangladesh innings.
The second match of the series is at Nelson on Wednesday and the final match at Napier on Saturday.
