Nicholls, Young's batting blitzes dampen Sarkar's record-breaking knock as NZ rock BAN in 2nd ODI to clinch series

Riding on Henry Nicholls and Will Young's top-notch knocks New Zealand clinched the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh with a convincing seven-wicket victory in the second match, held at Saxton Oval in Nelson on Wednesday. Despite a record-breaking knock from Soumya Sarkar, who scored 169 runs from 151 deliveries, including 22 fours and two sixes, Bangladesh bowlers succumbed to star-studded New Zealand's batting line-up. The Black Caps successfully chased the 292-run target with 22 balls remaining.

Sarkar's with his phenomenal batting show not only surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's record for the highest individual ODI score by a subcontinent player in New Zealand but also set a new record for the highest ODI score by a Bangladeshi player in an away match.

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Put into bat first, Bangladesh were all out for 291 in 49.5 overs. At a critical juncture, they were in a precarious position, having lost four wickets for just 80 runs in 16.5 overs. However, Soumya Sarkar and Mushfiqur Rahim steadied the ship with a crucial 91-run partnership for the fifth wicket, reviving their team's chances in the match.

Mushfiqur contributed a solid 45 from 57 balls before being dismissed by Jacob Duffy. Besides Rahim and Sarkar, the rest of the Bangladesh lineup struggled to make a significant impact. Top-order batsmen Anamul Haque Bijoy, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Litton Das all failed to reach double figures in their innings.

Jacob Duffy and William O'Rourke stood out among the bowlers, each claiming three wickets. In his ODI debut, Adithya Ashok took the important wicket of Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

In reply, New Zealand made a strong start, with Will Young and Rachin Ravindra combining for a brisk 76-run opening stand in just 11 overs. Continuing his impressive form from the first match at University Oval in Dunedin, where he scored a century, Young again played a key role in Kiwis' win.

He contributed with 89 runs off 94 balls, including eight fours and two sixes, before being caught and bowled by Hasan Mahmud. Ravindra, who had been dismissed for a duck in the first game, was also later dismissed by Mahmud. After failing to score in Dunedin, Henry Nicholls rebounded strongly in Nelson, scoring 95 runs from 99 deliveries with eight fours and a six. Young and Nicholls together added a significant 128 runs for the second wicket. And by the time Nicholls fell in the 41st over, it was all over for Bangladesh as Tom Latham and Tom Blundell stitched another 56 runs for the fourth wicket to steer New Zealand to a facile victory.

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