Cricket: Poor Bangladesh start makes tour a hard sell

Brendon McCullum admires his handiwork as New Zealand cruised to victory last night. McCullum belted 56 off 27 balls to see his side home. Photo / Getty Images

Scoreboard

Deep down, New Zealand officials would have been hoping for a decent contest to start Bangladesh's tour.

Their generosity of thought would not have extended to a loss for the hosts but at least something remotely competitive to spark interest for the remaining four matches.

It was a balmy night, and a good crowd in with a chirpy Bangladeshi contingent, so the backdrop was spot on.

Unfortunately based on last night's Twenty20 international at Seddon Park, it's going to be a hard sell.

Having won the toss, the tourists were rolled for just 78, their lowest total in 14 internationals of this format and sixth poorest by anyone.

New Zealand went through their paces competently enough.

They fielded impressively - a tough diving effort by Daryl Tuffey at fine leg the only blemish - and kept up their standards even as the shape of the contest was becoming clearly defined.

The runs were knocked off in 8.2 overs, Brendon McCullum belting 56 off 27 balls, new cap Peter Ingram 20 in 23 balls for a 10-wicket win.

To make a bad night worse, Bangladesh's fielding was inept.

Two straightforward catches were grassed and New Zealand benefited by four overthrows which went past three backup fielders.

Put it all down to a nightmare start. They are better than this.

Ingram got his first international runs with a clipped four off his legs, struck one thunderous drive through the covers and a dismissive pull through mid wicket.

McCullum stepped on the accelerator after, for him, a measured start, and hurried the ending along.

The run of the game bore some resemblance to the third ODI at Queenstown on New Year's Eve, 2007. After bouncing Bangladesh for 93, McCullum smeared an unbeaten 80 off 28 balls, the target being reach in just six overs.

There were less pyrotechnics last night, but the result was no less emphatic.

Search for excuses if you like - their first game, finding their feet and so on - but some of the batting was hopeless.

They managed only eight fours and two sixes in the innings, three of which came from opener Tamim Iqbal in the second over, bowled by Tim Southee.

Tamim at least had the right idea and has a good eye. Aftab Ahmed deftly flicked James Franklin over the fence at fine leg, and Raqibul Hasan slammed Jacob Oram over the boundary at long on.

The wickets fell in two blocks - four in the space of 10 balls for just five runs, then three for seven in 13 balls. They slid five runs under their previous worst effort, 83 scored against Sri Lanka in Johannesburg three years ago.

Of the bowlers, captain Dan Vettori caught the eye, taking three for six in his four overs, partly through his own considerable skill, partly because Bangladesh, with their innings wobbling, self-destructed.

Tuffey was lively, Nathan McCullum, with a wicket first ball, was bouncy and economical. The three-game ODI series starts at Napier's McLean Park tomorrow.