Bangladesh cricket team spent a day relaxing at Queenstown before proper preparation for the three matches ODI series against strong New Zealand starting at University Oval, Dunedin on 20th March 2021. The second ODI will be held at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. In a series of three will look back in retrospect Bangladesh New Zealand ODIs of the past. Let us start with the match played at Hagley Oval on 16 February 2019. That was incidentally the last ODI played in that venue.

We are aware that Christchurch like Dunedin and Queenstown is in the Southern Islands of New Zealand where Bangladesh team spent in Quarnatine since arrival there.  Bangladesh has bitter sweet memory there having very narrowly escaped a deadly terrorist attack during last visit. A few minutes here and there could a disaster with most of the team meeting fatal consequence on a Black Friday. Bangladesh gas good feel of the Climate of Christchurch now. 

Hagley Oval: Named formerly park new was established as a cricket venue in 1851. For a ground in the southern hemisphere it is a reasonably large ground having 18,000 Capacity. The green top wicket is pacey and bouncy. But ball comes to the bat and quality players can score runs at ease if they can adjust with pace, bounce and swing with appropriate techniques. The first test was played there between New Zealand and Sri Lanka from December 26-29 in 2014. New Zealand won that match by 8 wickets.

Brief Scorecard: New Zealand 441 All Out (Brenden McCullam 195, James Neesham 85, Kane Williamson 54, Angelo Matthews 3/39, Suranga Lakmal 3/ 90) and 107/2 (Ross Taylor 39*, Kane Williamson 31*) 
Sri Lanka : 138 All Out ( Angelo Mathhews 50, Trent Boult 3/25 , Neil Wagner 3/60,  Tim Southee 2/17, James Neesham 2/ 28) and 407 All Out (Dimuth Karunaratne 152, Angelo Mathhews 66, Tim Southee 4/91 and Trent Boult 4/100) 

The purpose for me revisiting this match is that to let Bangladesh team try and watch video of this to draw confidence that even Boult and Southee can be handled on the ground as done by Sri Lankans in the second innings. 
Last Test was played between New Zealand and Pakistan where New Zealand Crushed Pakistan by an Innings and 176 runs. Pakistan played without their top batsman Babar Azam.

Brief Scorecard : Pakistan 297 ( Azhar Ali 93, Mohammad Rizwan 61, Faheem Ashraf 48, Kyle Jamieson 5/69, Tim Southee 2/61, Trent Boult 2/82) and 186 ( Azhar Ali 37, Zohar Gohar 37, Faheem Ashraf 23, Kayle Jamieson 6/48) 
New Zealand 659/6 Declared (Kane Williamson 238, James Neesham 157, Daryl Mitchell 102 , Mohammad Abbas 2/98, Shaeen Shah Afridi 2/101 )

The reason for me bringing it in reference here is that playing tall Jamieson at bouncy Hagley Oval would be tricky here . Bangladesh wont have to deal with Willaimson but Neesham and Mitchell would there to vex Bangladesh attack. 

Bangladesh New Zealand ODI played at Hagley Oval on February 16,2019 is the last ODI played there which Bangladesh lost heavily by 8 wickets with 83 balls to spare. 9 of the 11 players played in that match excepting Mashrafee Murtaza and Sabbir Rahman are in the present team. 

Brief Scoreacrd: Bangladesh 226 All Out (Mohammad Mithun 57, Sabbir Rahman 43, Lockie Ferguson 3/43 , James Nisham 2/21, Mat Henry 1/ 30 ) 
New Zealand 229/2 in 36.1 Overs (Martin Guptill 118 in 88 deliveries , Kane Williamson 65* , Mustafiz 2/42) 

It was a cakewalk for the black caps. There was nothing for the spinners at the wicket. That Martin Guptill is still in fiery form. Bangladesh has a slightly better pace attack and a better batting unit. Remember Shakib was not in that team. 

What Are Bangladesh Challenges At Wellington? 

They have to confront against Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Kayle Jamieson and Mat Henry there on a grassy bouncy wicket. They have to contain Guptill, Conway, Latham, Taylor, Nessham and Mitchell with inexperienced pace attack. If Bangladesh had an eye on history they should have mentored and prepared Sabbir Rahman the successful ODI batsman of the past Tour.
 
BDST: 1625 HRS, MAR 14, 2021
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