Bangladesh batter Soumya Sarkar steered Bangladesh to a competitive total, 291, with a brilliant century in the second ODI against New Zealand on Wednesday. The left-hander scored 169 off 151 balls. But his efforts were overshadowed by the knocks of Will Young (89 off 94) and Henry Nicholls (95 off 99) as the hosts won the game by 7 wickets to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3-match series.
Though Bangladesh lost the contest, everyone at the venue lauded Soumya Sarkar’s efforts. His score of 169 is now the highest score by a Bangladesh men’s player away from home in an ODI. The total of 291 is also Bangladesh’s highest ODI score in New Zealand.
The left-hand batter, who has been out of form in the past couple of years and even missed the flight to India for the World Cup 2023, blasted 2 sixes and 22 boundaries during his stint at the crease.
Sarkar even surpassed the long-standing record of Sachin Tendulkar to register the highest score in ODIs by a player from the sub-continent in New Zealand. The Indian batting legends scored an unbeaten 163 against the Black Caps in Christchurch in 2009.
After losing the toss and being put in to bat, Bangladesh looked in trouble, losing their first three wickets inside the 10-over mark. Soumya also lost a fourth partner in Towhid Hridoy (12) during the rebuild but found help through wicket-keeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim, who made 45 (57) in a partnership of 91.
After Mushfiqur’s dismissal to Jacob Duffy (3/51 from 10 overs), Soumya pressed on to help his team pass 200, upping his rate of scoring while Mehidy Hasan Miraz (19) and Tanzim Hasan Sakib (13) attempted to chip in.
A special knock from Soumya Sarkar, applauded by the Saxton Oval crowd #NZvBAN pic.twitter.com/tfFoYh4UGD— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 20, 2023
Mehidy was dismissed by New Zealand ODI debutant leg-spinner Adithya Ashok, who looked impressive despite finishing with figures of 1/63 from 10 overs next to his name. Fellow youngster William O’Rourke finished with 3/47 (9.5), taking all three wickets in the final over of the innings and preventing Soumya from breaking Litton Das’ record of the highest ODI score by a Bangladesh player (176 in Sylhet against Zimbabwe in 2020).
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