In a riveting second ODI between Bangladesh and New Zealand, Soumya Sarkar left an indelible mark by surpassing the record set by Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.
However, despite his outstanding century, Bangladesh faced defeat as New Zealand emerged victorious in a thrilling encounter.
Soumya Sarkar, the 30-year-old left-handed opener, showcased his resilience and skill by smashing an impressive 169 runs off 151 balls, including 22 fours and two sixes. This remarkable performance not only set a new record as the highest score by a Bangladesh men’s player in an away ODI but also marked the highest ODI score in New Zealand by a subcontinent player, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s 163* against the Kiwis in Christchurch in 2009.
Despite facing challenges in ODIs over the past two years and being left out of Bangladesh’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 squad, Soumya Sarkar’s innings proved that he remains a force to be reckoned with. The team’s total of 291 also became Bangladesh’s highest ODI score in New Zealand.
Soumya’s stellar performance found support from Mushfiqur Rahim, who contributed 45 runs in their partnership of 91. Even after Mushfiqur’s dismissal, Soumya continued to push the scoring, guiding the team past the 200-run mark with valuable contributions from Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Tanzim Hasan Sakib.
New Zealand’s Adithya Ashok, making his ODI debut, showcased his skills by dismissing Mehidy, finishing with figures of 1/63 from 10 overs. However, William O’Rourke’s three wickets in the final over prevented Soumya from breaking Litton Das’ record of the highest ODI score by a Bangladesh player.
In response, New Zealand mounted a successful chase, reaching the target of 292 with seven wickets in hand and 22 balls to spare. Will Young and Henry Nicholls led the charge for the hosts, with crucial contributions from Rachin Ravindra. Tom Latham and Tom Blundell closed out the chase in the 47th over, securing a convincing win for New Zealand.
While Soumya Sarkar’s extraordinary century will be remembered as a standout moment in the match, New Zealand’s collective effort ultimately overshadowed Bangladesh’s individual brilliance. The victory for the hosts highlighted their batting depth and resilience in the face of a challenging target, setting the stage for an intriguing series between the two cricketing nations.
