Bangladesh opened their T20I series against New Zealand with a breathtaking victory at Chattogram on April 27, 2026, chasing down 183 with 12 balls to spare to win by 6 wickets. Riding high on confidence after levelling the ODI series, Bangladesh showed no fear against a competitive New Zealand total, with Towhid Hridoy's match-winning 51* off just 27 balls the centrepiece of a scintillating chase. It was a performance full of character, aggression and belief — exactly the kind of T20 cricket Bangladesh have been aspiring to play on home soil.

New Zealand Innings: Clarke and Cleaver Lay the Foundation

New Zealand's innings got off to a flying start in the powerplay, posting 61/1 in the first six overs on a Chattogram surface that offered decent batting conditions. Devon Cleaver was the early aggressor, launching a brilliant 50 off just 27 balls — 7 fours and 1 six — while building a 50-run second-wicket stand with KD Clarke in 28 balls. Bangladesh's DRS bowling review in over 4.4 for Clarke's wicket was struck down on umpire's call, offering the New Zealand opener a crucial reprieve.

Clarke made the most of his life, bringing up his own fifty off 34 balls — 7 fours and 1 six — as New Zealand reached 99/2 at the drinks break in 9.4 overs. The 100-run mark arrived the very next ball, and at that stage New Zealand looked primed for a total well beyond 200. However, Bangladesh's bowlers fought back admirably through the middle overs, picking up wickets at regular intervals to keep the score in check.

A bad light interruption at 151/5 in 16.3 overs with NF Kelly on 34 and JA Clarkson on 5 briefly halted proceedings, and another Bangladesh DRS bowling review in over 15.1 for Kelly's wicket was struck down on umpire's call — denying them a crucial breakthrough. Kelly and Clarkson pushed on after the resumption, with Clarkson finishing on 27 as New Zealand closed on 182/6 — a competitive total, but one that Bangladesh's explosive batting line-up would fancy chasing.

Bangladesh Chase: Hridoy Lights Up Chattogram

Bangladesh's reply began with intent but not without nerves. The powerplay produced 44/1 — steady rather than spectacular — as early wickets gave New Zealand a foothold in the contest. A New Zealand DRS bowling review in over 6.4 for Litton Das' wicket was struck down on umpire's call, keeping Bangladesh's anchor in the middle, but Litton could not fully capitalise before eventually falling.

Bangladesh reached 50 in 6.3 overs and 100 in 11.3 overs, the required rate hovering around 10 but the innings building nicely. At the drinks break they were 77/2 in 10 overs, Tanzid Hasan on 20 and Towhid Hridoy just beginning to find his timing. What followed was a batting masterclass of the highest order.

The fourth-wicket partnership between Towhid Hridoy and Parvez Hossain Emon was the match-winning stand — 50 runs in just 25 balls that swung the game completely and irreversibly in Bangladesh's favour. Hridoy was the destroyer-in-chief, and when he reached his fifty off just 26 balls — 2 fours and 3 sixes — the match was effectively over. Bangladesh crossed 150 in 15.6 overs and completed the chase at 183/4 in 18 overs, winning with a full 12 balls to spare in scenes of enormous celebration at Chattogram.

Towhid Hridoy was the unanimous Player of the Match — his 51* off 27 a knock of rare brilliance under pressure that sent a powerful message to New Zealand ahead of the rest of the T20I series.

Key Moments

  • Bangladesh's two DRS reviews struck down on umpire's call — for Clarke in over 4.4 and Kelly in over 15.1 — denied them wickets that could have restricted New Zealand further.
  • Cleaver's 27-ball fifty set an explosive tone for New Zealand's innings that their middle order failed to match.
  • Clarke's 50 off 34 balls was the anchor innings that took New Zealand past 150.
  • The Hridoy-Emon 50-run fourth-wicket stand in 25 balls was the decisive passage of the chase.
  • Hridoy's 51* off 27 — one of the finest T20I innings played by a Bangladesh batter this year — was a match-winner of the highest class.

Bangladesh take a 1-0 lead in the T20I series with this impressive victory. New Zealand will need to reassess their bowling strategy after being chased down with such comfort, while Bangladesh will take enormous confidence into the second T20I.