||CF Correspondent||

Martin Guptill scored an unbeaten century to guide New Zealand to an eight-wicket win over Bangladesh in the three-match ODI’s series opener at Napier on Wednesday.

Guptil hit 117 off 116 balls to help the host reach 233-2 in 44.3 after they dismissed the visitors for 232 runs to earn a comfortable win and in the process take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Earlier, Mohammad Mithun struck 62 off 90 balls and shared 84 runs with Mohammad Saifuddin (41 off 58 balls) for the eighth wicket to help Bangladesh post a decent score at McLean Park after the elected to bat first.

Bangladesh lost top four batsmen inside the batting power play to be reduced to 42-4 before the rearguard actions saved their blushes. Tamim Iqbal started with a four but got a thick edge off Trent Boult in the second over of the innings to get dismissed for five.

Liton Das dragged a Matt Henry delivery onto his stumps after making just one before Mushfiqur Rahim’s cross-batted effort off Boult missed the line and got his stumps dismantled. Mushfiq could make just five runs.

Soumya Sarkar played few positive strokes, including a six over midwicket, and survived a review but could not make his innings long as he got the bottom edge and caught and bowled by Henry after scoring 30 off 22 balls.

Mahmudullah tried to resurrect the innings with Mithun and was reprieved on four upon review after being given caught behind out initially. But he too perished for 13 slashing Lockie Ferguson to Taylor at wide slip.

Sabbir Rahman could not make his comeback to international cricket from suspension was he was stumped by Tom Latham off Mitchell Santner for 13. Mehedi dispatched the first two balls he faced for boundaries but paid the price for showing too much of aggression as he departed for 26 off 27.

Boult finished with 3-40 while Matt Henry and Lookie Ferguson claimed two wickets respectively to put pressure on their opponent on a well-grassed surface and they were supported beautifully by left-arm spinner Santer’s with his three-wicket haul.

New Zealand got a perfect start in reply as Guptill shared 103-run with Henry Nicholls to set up the foundation for chase before cruising to his 15th ODI hundred and complete the win that also kept the Kiwis unbeaten record against the Tigers at home intact.

Mehedi Hasan bowled Nicholls for 53 to give Bangladesh the first breakthrough before Mahmudullah successfully reviewed a leg-before appeal against Kane Williamson, who made 11, but Guptill and Ross Taylor ensured New Zealand did not face further hiccup.

Taylor was unbeaten on 45 when victory came with Guptil taking a single off Mashrafee bin Murtaza. James Neesham took a fine catch of Santner to end brave effort of Mehedi. The best part of Bangladesh’s innings came thereafter as Saifuddin batted sensibly to make sure

Bangladesh got past the 200-run mark. Just when it looked like he and Mithun, who has now three ODI fifties, would take Bangladesh to around 250 Saifuddin picked out Guptill at midwicket off Santner.