Cricket: Bangladesh at last show fight

Bangladesh batsman Imrul Kayes celebrates his century yesterday. Photo / Getty Images

So much for a 3-zip cakewalk.

Yes, a clean sweep for New Zealand in their ODI series against Bangladesh, but last night's three-wicket win was far from the precise, emphatic performance they were seeking to round off the rubber against opponents who produced their most spirited display of the tour.

Chasing 241 for nine, New Zealand, courtesy of an injured James Franklin, batting with a runner, and Ian Butler got their side across the line with 5.1 overs to spare.

Careless batting had been preceded by messy periods of bowling. It all added up to a display which had a whiff of expecting things to fall into place, especially the batting.

Senior batsmen Brendon McCullum, having whipped two sixes to the ridiculously short boundary behind square leg, departed heaving across the line, and Ross Taylor, running down the pitch to be easily stumped, gifted their wickets away.

When three wickets fell for 15 in 18 balls, making it 210 for seven, the game was in the balance.

The final stages made Bangladesh's failure to capitalise on a decent foundation for a late push all the more crucial. They came up at least 30 runs short with the bat. Just as well for New Zealand's sake.

The shining light on a gloomy night was Martin Guptill, whose scintillating run-a-ball 91 was chockful of bold, clean strokes, three of which cleared the boundary rope.

Just when it seemed his second ODI hundred was unmissable, he holed out to long off, which precipitated the late innings wobble.

Bangladesh captain and left arm spinner, Shakib al Hasan, did a sterling job, nabbing four wickets to keep the flame alive for the tourists.

But his fielders let him down too often and in the early stages of New Zealand's innings too many pies were thrown the batsmen's way.

The win means New Zealand have won 16 of 17 ODIs against Bangladesh.

If they had hoped to roll Bangladesh smartly and get an early night it didn't work. Opener Imrul Kayes anchored a solid effort in reaching 241 for nine. His diligent 101 was his first ODI century, Bangladesh's 17th overall and the fourth against major nations.

He shared the two most significant stands, 58 with Mohammad Ashraful for the third wicket, then 84 with captain Shakib al Hasan for the fourth.

The short boundaries helped, but they batted sensibly, kept their heads and were able to put Bangladesh into a decent position to press on in the latter stages. That they didn't was down to a limp ending, and a flurry of late wickets.

Stocky lefthander Kayes drove strongly, swept tidily, picked his time to attack and got to his century in 134 balls with 11 fours before being yorked by spinner Dan Vettori shortly after.

Shakib gave glimpses of his talents, while Ashraful, having got established, fell to a fine, one-handed catch by wicketkeeper McCullum.

New Zealand's bowling left plenty to be desired.

Andy McKay had his poorest day in the black shirt, going for 48 in eight overs. In the plus column was a tidy final over, which might point to his chances of getting a job as the clean up man in the closing overs when Australian bats are swinging hard next month. Ian Butler's eight overs cost 58, his radar being on the blink.

By contrast Tim Southee did a sound job, after conceding three fours in his first eight deliveries. From then, he gave up just six scoring shots in his opening six-over spell which cost 20. Three wickets was a good reward.