Opener Jamie How made 88 to steer the BLACKCAPS to a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first National Bank ODI at Eden Park.
How composed the bulk of his innings in stands of 90 with Brendon McCullum (40) and 67 with Peter Fulton (35) as the target of 202 was hunted down with seven overs to spare.
The top order stability was notable, but the most eye catching innings was that of visiting captain Mohammad Ashraful, who plundered 70 from 57 deliveries.
Having been inserted to the crease by Daniel Vettori, a steady start by the tourists came undone with the wickets of Zunead Siddique (13) and Aftab Ahmed (eight), back in the pavilion for just 39 runs.
Then, Ashraful forged a 97-run, third-wicket stand with opener Tamim Iqbal, who made 50 in their side’s most prolific pairing.
After those two were dispatched, the BLACKCAPS attack struck at regular intervals.
Only Mashrafe Mortaza (17) and an unbeaten 22 from Abdur Razzak provided resistance from the lower order.
BLACKCAPS seam trio Kyle Mills, Mark Gillespie and Jacob Oram claimed three wickets each to stall Bangladesh at 201 with 21 balls in hand.
How and McCullum staved off the threat posed by the tourists’ bowling line-up, navigating through 19 overs together before McCullum fell to a return catch off a loose Farhad Reza delivery.
A further stand of Fulton and How manoeuvred their side within sight of victory, although Fulton and Ross Taylor (eight) were dismissed.
Scott Styris’ unbeaten 25, finishing off the contest with a huge six, ensured the target was reached and a 1-0 lead in the National Bank Series earned.
