From Shanto to Fizz: Milestones reached in Tigers’ ODI series win over NZ

Bangladesh sealed a 2-1 series win over New Zealand in Chattogram today, following a 55-run victory in the third and series-deciding ODI. Along the way, the Tigers set a number of records:

** Bangladesh’s 55-run win over New Zealand in Chattogram is their biggest victory by runs against the Black Caps in ODIs. Their previous highest was a 43-run win in Mirpur in 2013.

**This is only the third time Bangladesh have won a three-match ODI series after losing the opening match. The first instance came against Zimbabwe in 2009, while the second was against South Africa in 2015 -- both on home soil.

** Najmul Hossain Shanto struck 105 off 119 balls to register his fourth ODI century. The innings ended his 20-match drought for a hundred, his last coming at the same venue in March 2024 against Sri Lanka. Notably, all four of Shanto’s ODI centuries have come in winning causes for Bangladesh.

** Litton Das scored 76 off 91 balls, ending a 19-innings drought for an ODI fifty. His previous half-century came against India in Pune during the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup. During this lean period, Litton reached the 40s four times – three in his last four innings before yesterday – and also registered four ducks.

** Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman claimed his sixth five-wicket haul in ODIs. He now stands joint-second among left-arm pacers alongside Wasim Akram and Trent Boult. Mitchell Starc leads this category with nine, while Waqar Younis holds the overall ODI record with 13 five-wicket hauls.

** The 2-1 series win over New Zealand marks Bangladesh’s third consecutive ODI series victory, following home wins against Pakistan and West Indies. This is their first such streak since August 2022 and comes after a run of four straight series defeats, including whitewashes against West Indies and Afghanistan.

** With this achievement, captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz joins Habibul Bashar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mashrafe bin Mortaza, and Tamim Iqbal in leading Bangladesh to three successive ODI series wins. Mashrafe holds the record with six consecutive series wins (2014-2016), while Tamim achieved five between 2021 and 2022.

** Nahid Rana earned his second successive Player of the Series award. He previously shared the honor with Tanzid Tamim against Pakistan in March. In both series, Nahid claimed eight wickets, including a five-wicket haul in each. Shakib Al Hasan holds Bangladesh’s record with seven Player of the Series awards, while Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim have six each.