Bangladesh found their rhythm late but with enough force to overhaul a challenging target, sealing a six-wicket win over New Zealand in the opening T20I of the three-match series in Chattogram on Monday.

Chasing 183, the hosts were restrained early, managing just 40 in the powerplay. The start did little to suggest what would follow. Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan struggled to keep pace, and for a while the chase appeared to drift.

Momentum shifted in phases. Litton Das offered a brief push, while Parvez Hossain accelerated with a brisk cameo that helped lift the scoring rate. It was, however, the unbroken partnerships that followed which reshaped the contest.

Towhid Hridoy anchored the innings with composure, reaching his fifty in 26 balls and staying unbeaten on 51. At the other end, Shamim Hossain brought urgency and intent, striking 31 from just 13 deliveries. Their stand of 49 runs came in little more than three overs, closing the chase in 18 overs and marking Bangladesh’s highest successful run chase at home.

Earlier, New Zealand had built their innings around a fluent opening phase. Katene Clarke and Devon Cleaver counterattacked after an early run-out, putting together an 88-run partnership that carried the visitors through the powerplay and beyond.

Both batters reached their half-centuries at a steady clip before Rishad Hossain broke the stand, dismissing Cleaver and then Clarke in quick succession. The double strike unsettled the innings, and New Zealand lost four wickets for 31 runs during a middle-order slide.

Tanzim Hasan and Mahedi Hasan chipped in with timely wickets as the visitors slipped to 130 for five. A brief interruption due to floodlight failure halted play, after which Nick Kelly and Josh Clarkson added late runs to push the total to 182.

Kelly top-scored with 39, while Clarkson’s unbeaten 27 ensured a strong finish, with 52 runs coming in the final five overs. Bangladesh’s bowlers shared the workload, with Rishad leading the figures and others contributing single wickets.

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The chase that followed did not unfold smoothly, but Bangladesh held their nerve when it mattered. What began cautiously ended with authority, as the home side edged ahead in the series with a performance built on patience early and clarity at the finish.