PHOTO: FIROZ AHMED
Bangladesh fielded a second-string eleven against New Zealand yesterday in a bid to gauge them ahead of the ODI World Cup in India next month but the first of the three-match ODI series was washed out due to incessant rain.  Â
The game was reduced to a 42-over-a-side contest after the first rain-induced break. New Zealand reached 136 for five in 33.4 overs before rain halted proceedings again and the game could not be resumed further. Â
The Tigers, under the leadership of stand-in captain Liton Das, are missing a total of seven regular starters for the series, including regular skipper Shakib Al Hasan.
The match, however, was the first game for Tamim Iqbal in Bangladesh colours after stepping down from captaincy in August while another experienced campaigner, Mahmudullah Riyad, retrurned to the national fold after being dropped in March. Â
Bangladesh dominated yesterday, with Mustafizur Rahman removing Finn Allen and Chad Bowes early. Mustafizur also ended a 97-run stand between Will Young and Henry Nicholls before Nasum took two scalps to give Bangladesh back the momentum in the game.
