New Zealand under-19 cricket coach Dipak Patel has blamed spin-friendly conditions in Sri Lanka for his side's first-up loss to Bangladesh at the under-19 World Cup.
Sent in to bat by Bangladesh in Colombo, New Zealand were all out for 175 after 45.3 overs, with opener Todd Astle's 44 off92 balls the top score, followed by 33 extras - including 22 wides - from Bangladesh.
Bangladesh's left-arm spinner Mehrab Hossain was the best of his side's bowlers, taking 4-29, including the wicket of Astle
In reply, Bangladesh reached victory in 37.5 overs, with three wickets to spare. Hossain was also his side's top scorer, with 38, and New Zealand opening bowler Hamish Bennett took 2-38 from his 10 overs.
Patel said New Zealand were struggling to cope with spin in the sub-continent conditions.
"It is fair to say that in these conditions we have been found wanting against the spinners," he said.
"We are struggling on the slower wickets as our players are used to the ball coming on a bit more."
Patel did find some positives from the loss, following back-to-back losses in warm-up games.
"Our bowling and fielding was outstanding defending a small total - it was 100 per cent better than the warm-up games," he said.
"Perhaps we could have won it but in the end they took their chances, played positively and overall they were the better side."
The defeat is a blow to the young New Zealanders' hopes of reaching the World Cup quarter-finals.
"Our destiny is in our own hands," Patel said.
"We have got to beat Uganda well, beat Pakistan and then look at run-rates."
New Zealand's next match in their Group A pool is against Uganda tomorrow. Bangladesh face Pakistan on Thursday.
Two sides from each pool progress to the quarter-finals.
Australia hammered South Africa by 175 runs after posting a mammoth 316 for nine, Sri Lanka survived a scare to beat minnows Scotland by four wickets, and Zimbabwe beat Ireland by 118 runs.
