Dhaka: Visiting Bangladesh failed to start the tour on a positive note as they lost the lone practice game against New Zealand XI on Sunday at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz led the Bangladesh team while Jeet Raval was the captain of New Zeland XI. 

New Zealand XI won the toss and decided to bowl first. Bangladesh amassed 247 runs in 46.1 over losing all the wickets. New Zealand XI chased it down in 48.1 overs with the help of right-hand 25-year-old batsman Andrew Fletcher’s 92 and Jeet Raval’s 52, reports the UNB.

The tourists lost the first four wickets in only 31 runs. Liton Das and Mominul Haque opened the innings for the Tigers but failed to impress as they accumulated only 11 runs. 

Mominul was the first man of Bangladesh to fall as skied a short delivery off Andrew Hazeldine. Dale Phillips sprinted from his position at third slip and took a wonderful catch to remove Mominul (6 off 10). 

In the next over, Liton poked to slip to lose his wicket for three off 10 deliveries. He fell prey to Ian McPeake. Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Mithun fell scoring one each facing nine and five deliveries respectively. Both of them were hunted by short balls off Hazeldine and McPeake.

However, in the fifth wicket partnership, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad added 108 runs. 

Mushfiqur fell for 62 off 61 deliveries with eight fours to his name while Mahmdullah scored 72 off 88 with 10 fours. Besides Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah, Sabbir Rahman was the only man to offer some batting resistance for the Tigers as he struck 40 off 41 balls with six fours to his name.

Nayeem Hasan, the right-arm off spinner, hit 17 off 23 balls while Mustafizur Rahman added 12 off 14 to the board. 

27-year-old right-arm pacer Ian McPeake bagged four wickets for the New Zealand XI while Hazeldine and Rachin Ravindra took two wickets each for them. 

While replying, Fletcher ad Raval made 114 in the first wicket stand and propelled the New Zealand XI to a win. 

Mustafizur, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mahmudullah took two wickets each for the Tigers but their efforts were not enough to avoid an embarrassing loss for them. 

Bangladesh will start the three-match ODI series against New Zealand on February 13. Right after the ODI series, both of the teams will lock horn in a three-match Test series as well.