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New Zealand outclassed Bangladesh by seven wickets in the second ODI to seal the three-match series despite Soumya Sarkar’s record-breaking century at Saxton Oval, Nelson on Wednesday.

Soumya smashed 169 off 151 balls to help Bangladesh post a commanding total of 291 but the Kiwi top-orders swept away the game from the Tigers.

Soumya has surpassed great Sachin Tendulkar's highest individual score of of 163* in New Zealand as an Asian batter.

Soumya, who managed to survive on multiple occasions, benefiting from dropped catches by the New Zealand fielders on 51 and 92, and also survived a close call on 58, scored a much-needed century after a long time in ODI cricket for Bangladesh.

This is the third ODI ton for Soumya and first century in international cricket after four years, last one was also against the Blackcaps in a Test back in 2019.

Soumya's first ODI ton in over five years, which also became the second-highest individual ODI score for Bangladesh of all time, has 22 fours and 2 sixs. Litton Das got the top 176 runs against Zimbabwe.

After losing the toss, the visitors have lost skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (6) and Litton (6) soon after opener Anamul Haque Bijoy, who was out for two off 12 deliveries, inside the first powerplay.

But Soumya held his ground to redeem himself and guided the Tigers from a shaky start. The left-hander was confident from the start as he welcomed William O'Rourke into the attack with three boundaries in the seventh over.

Bijoy, who hit 43 in the first game, encountered difficulties in finding his touch right from the start, eventually edging an outswinger from Adam Milne to be caught at slip in the fifth over.

Shanto, facing a delivery from Jacob Duffy in the eighth over, produced a leading edge, seemingly caught off guard by the extra bounce. The left-handed batter's mistimed shot resulted in a straightforward catch for Henry Nicholls at cover.

In the following over, Duffy secured another crucial wicket of Litton, enticed by a wide delivery, impulsively swung his bat only to be caught by Will Young in the cover-point region.

Later Towhid Hridoy faced an unfortunate runout as Josh Clarkson in follow-through after his delivery, got low to stop the straight drive from Soumya but the ball flicked his leg and hit the stumps at the bowlers end to get out Hridoy for 12.

Soumya then lost his partner Mushfiqur Rahim (45) after their crucial 91 runs partnership, when Mushfiq edged and was taken by the keeper as Duffy’s third victim.

Adithya Ashok got his maiden ODI wicket with Mehidy Hasan Miraz (12), who was supporting Soumya perfectly with 61 runs stand between them.

O’Rourke got Soumya along with two tail-enders to finish Bangladesh’s innings in the last over.

In the second part of the game, Bangladesh secured their initial breakthrough immediately following the conclusion of the first powerplay when Hasan Mahmud removed the threatening Rachin Ravindra for 45 off 33 balls.

That dismissal left the Kiwis at 76-1 after 11 overs as they pursued the target of 292. That brought Henry Nicholls to the crease.

Opener Will Young, who struck century in the last game, gave a return catch to Hasan for his second wicket of the game, which also concluded match-winning partnership between Young and Nicholls of 128 runs.

Young hit eight fours and a couple of sixes during his 89 runs innings.

Shoriful Islam later brought an end to Nicholls' innings, who scored 95 off 99 balls, but by then, the damage had already been done.

Then captain Tom Latham (34) and Tom Blundell (24) easily passed the remaining chase.