Mirpur, Bangladesh: Fast bowler Rubel Hossain took a hat trick and a career-best 6-26 to help Bangladesh win the rain-affected first one-day international against New Zealand by 43 runs on Tuesday.
New Zealand was 82-3 after 20 overs when unexpected rain delayed the match for 105 minutes. Given a revised, tougher target of 206 off 33 overs under the Duckworth Lewis method, the Kiwis were all out for 162 in 29.5 overs at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Kane Williamson, who bowled without taking a wicket, did not bat because he was hurt.
Bangladesh was dismissed in 49.5 overs for 265, its highest score against New Zealand. Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim top-scored with 90 and Naeem Islam made 84.
After the rain break, New Zealand's Corey Anderson and Grant Elliott went after the Bangladeshi bowlers aggressively. They were 121-3 and silencing the crowd until Rubel torpedoed the middle order in his third over.
He knocked over the middle stump of Corey Anderson (46), made captain Brendan McCullum (0) slice straight to backward point, and got James Neesham (0) to glance a legside delivery for a catch behind.
Rubel became the third Bangladeshi to achieve an ODI hat trick after Shahadat Hossain against Zimbabwe in 2006 and Abdur Razzak against the same opponent in 2010.
Rubel later dismissed Nathan McCullum (10) and Grant Elliott (71) to help his side seal the first of three matches.
Elliott, the top-scorer, was the last man out. He collected his total off 77 balls, including six fours and two sixes. Anderson made 46 with three fours and four sixes. They combined for 61 straddling the break for rain.
For Bangladesh, Rahim's 90 off 98 balls and Naeem's 84 from 115 included a stand of 154 for the fourth wicket after Bangladesh was 25-3.
Medium-fast bowler James Neesham finished with 4-42 and fast bowler Tim Southee 3-34.
Rahim's 12th half century included eight boundaries and two sixes. Naeem needed 17 balls to open his account but continued steadily to collect his second highest score off 115 balls with a dozen boundaries.
After New Zealand put Bangladesh into bat, Southee ripped through the top order, trapping Tamim Iqbal lbw on 5. The in-form Mominul Haque was run out for a duck after a misunderstanding with Anamul Haque.
Southee claimed Anamul on 13 to leave Bangladesh in major trouble.
Rahim and Naeem then repaired the innings and laid the platform that eventually helped Bangladesh to its highest ODI total against New Zealand.
Mahmudullah was the other notable scorer, with 29 from 30 balls.
New Zealand decided to field first considering the dew factor could be vital in the evening. With the ground covered in dew, Bangladeshi spinners were expected to have trouble gripping the ball.
For Bangladesh, spinner Shakib Al Hasan was ruled out with a viral fever, while opener Anton Devcich made his debut for New Zealand and scored 22 off 29 balls.
