Rana, Tanzid and Najmul earn Bangladesh series parity

At the halfway stage in Dhaka, Bangladesh faced a familiar situation. Just three days earlier, they had failed to chase a sub-250 total, allowing New Zealand to draw first blood in the ODI series. In the second fixture, set an even lower target of 199, they ensured their bowlers' efforts didn't go to waste.

Pacer Nahid Rana's 5-32 dismantled New Zealand despite opener Nick Kelly's fighting 102-ball 83. Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain then delivered the win with half-centuries. Only Najmul's cramps, which led him to retire hurt, marred an otherwise perfect evening for the hosts as they leveled the series.

Rana reduced New Zealand to 28/2 in the 10th over. Kelly revived the innings with key partnerships, adding 56 with Muhammad Abbas and 37 with Dean Foxcroft. Shoriful Islam dismissed Kelly for 83 in the 37th over, triggering a collapse from 145/5 to 198 all out.

Bangladesh lost Saif Hassan and Soumya Sarkar early in the chase, but a 120-run third-wicket partnership between Najmul and Tanzid took control. Tanzid smashed Nathan Smith for two sixes in the fifth over, and Najmul hit William O'Rourke for two boundaries in the sixth. They raced to 67/2 in 10 overs, staying well ahead of the required rate.

New Zealand's Blair Tickner, who excelled in the first match, conceded 35 runs in 5 overs. Spinner Jayden Lennox broke the partnership in the 23rd over and dismissed Litton Das, but Towhid Hridoy (30* off 31) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz completed the chase in the 36th over.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 198 in 48.4 overs (Nick Kelly 83; Nahid Rana 5-32) lost to Bangladesh 199/4 in 35.3 overs (Tanzid Hasan 76, Najmul Hossain 50) by 6 wickets.