DHAKA, 8 November 2004 — Mathew Sinclair and Scott Styris hit half-centuries to set up New Zealand’s 83-run victory over Bangladesh yesterday as they completed a three-match one-day sweep of the hosts.
Opening batsman Sinclair top-scored with a solid 66 while Styris made an impressive 51 as New Zealand posted a challenging 250-7 on a slow pitch after electing to bat in the day-night game.
New Zealand then restricted Bangladesh to 167-7 for their third successive victory in the three-match series.
Left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori never allowed the Bangladeshi batsmen to score freely as he finished with 3-25 off 10 tight overs.
“It was a nice finish,” said New Zealand skipper Vettori. A minor consolation for Bangladesh was Mohammad Rafique’s fine all-round performance.
The left-arm spinner finished with a career-best haul of 4-63 to become Bangladesh’s leading wicket-taker in one-dayers, surpassing Khaled Mahmud’s 54 victims. He has so far grabbed 56 scalps.
Rafique then played an attractive cameo of 21 after being promoted as an opener. He smashed four boundaries, including two in a Kyle Mills over, before becoming one of the three leg-before victims.
Khaled Mashud (40 not out) and Nafis Iqbal (40) were the other main contributors, but Bangladesh never got into their stride after losing the first three wickets for just 48 runs.
New Zealand had boosted their chances with a steady batting performance despite Rafique’s impressive bowling effort.
All-rounder Chris Cairns helped his team set a tough target with his big hitting in the closing overs, smashing three sixes and two fours in his 16-ball 34.
New Zealand plundered 99 in the last 10 overs.
