Martin Guptill returned to form with an unbeaten century as New Zealand powered to an eight-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first one-day international in Napier on Wednesday.
Bangladesh set New Zealand a modest run chase of 233 after suffering an early collapse and the Black Caps overhauled it in 44.3 overs, finishing at 233 for two.
It is Bangladesh's fifth tour to New Zealand and they are yet to win a match in any format, with their next chance coming in the second ODI in Christchurch on Saturday.
Bangladesh have lost ten straight ODIs against New Zealand in New Zealand. Will they get a win during the ongoing series? #NZvBAN https://t.co/LIQ1tkktEZ pic.twitter.com/9Ptu7ge8jc
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 13, 2019
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza said his team were adjusting to New Zealand conditions and still hoped of a breakthrough victory.
"We bowled well but we were struggling batting. We just lost too many wickets early," he said.
Guptill and Henry Nicholls pressed their case to open the batting at the World Cup as New Zealand made light work of the target.
Martin Guptill hit an unbeaten ? to guide New Zealand to an eight-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first ODI at Napier.
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) February 13, 2019
Report & highlights ? https://t.co/H0lrHZf6tR pic.twitter.com/hDCJxdj6Nt
Guptill, returning from injury, put a poor run of scores behind him with a commanding 117 not out.
He had been averaging less than 10 since his last international innings of note, a big-hitting 138 against Sri Lanka in early January.
Guptill's effort against Bangladesh was more controlled, with the batsman under no pressure and content to pick off loose deliveries.
118 not out for Martin Guptill this morning against Bangladesh now that’s #CricketPlayedLouder #CPL19 #CPLPlayerWatch #NZvBAN pic.twitter.com/ZFmredXJIv
— CPL T20 (@CPL) February 13, 2019
His 15th ODI century came off 103 balls and included six fours and three sixes.
"Martin was brilliant, a fantastic hundred, and the contributions (from teammates) around that were really good as well," Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson said.
Nicholls looked comfortable in just his third outing since being promoted up the order, scoring 53 before a tame dismissal when the ball hit his pad and rolled onto the stumps.
Veteran batsman Ross Taylor also contributed an unbeaten 45.
Mohammad Mithun was the pick of Bangladesh's hitters, grinding out a hard-fought 62 after coming to the crease with Bangladesh reeling at 42 for four after a decision to bat first backfired.
Mohammad Mithun's knock of 62 helps Bangladesh set a respectable target of 233 in Napier .. #NZvBANhttps://t.co/3p3cb5dbZZ pic.twitter.com/w30VmWkwdT
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) February 13, 2019
Mohammad Saifuddin provided support with a gritty 41 as Bangladesh were bowled out for 232 with seven balls of their allotted 50 overs remaining.
Spinner Mitchell Santner and paceman Trent Boult took three wickets apiece for New Zealand.
The Black Caps struck early when Tamim Iqbal departed for five in the second over and Liton Das soon followed, leaving Bangladesh at 19 for two.
Trent Boult wraps up the Bangladesh innings!
— ICC (@ICC) February 13, 2019
Mohammad Mithun's gritty half-century and 41 from Mohammad Saifuddin help their side post 232 in the first ODI. Can their bowlers defend the target?#NZvBAN LIVE ⏬https://t.co/HjcLR8C9cr pic.twitter.com/WLKsrewFR9
A rattled Mushfiqur Rahim was struck on the helmet by a Boult bouncer and was out for five just a few balls later.
Defiant Soumya Sarkar smashed 30 off 22 balls before he was caught and bowled by Matt Henry.
Sabbir Rahman summed up Bangladesh's batting woes when he was stumped trying to sweep Santner to the boundary.
Rahman's foot slipped as he crouched for the shot and he tumbled to the ground just outside his crease as wicketkeeper Tom Latham whipped off the bails.
Bangladesh
R B
T. Iqbal c Latham b Boult 5 6
L. Das b Henry 1 8
S. Sarkar c and b Henry 30 22
M. Rahim b Boult 5 14
M. Mithun b Ferguson 62 90
Mahmudullah c Taylor b Ferguson 13 29
S. Rahman st Latham b Santner 13 20
M. Hasan c Neesham b Santner 26 27
M. Saifuddin c Guptill b Santner 41 58
M. Mortaza not out 9 14
M. Rahman b Boult 0 6
Extras (lb5, w16, nb1, pen 5) 27
Total (all out, 48.5 overs) 232
Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Iqbal), 2-19 (Das), 3-42 (Rahim), 4-42 (Sarkar), 5-71 (Mahmudullah), 6-94 (S. Rahman), 7-131 (Hasan), 8-215 (Saifuddin), 2-229 (Mithun), 10-232 (M. Rahman)
Bowling: Henry 9-1-48-2, Boult 9.5-0-40-3 (w1, nb1), De Grandhomme 5-0-19-0, Ferguson 10-1-44-2 (w10), Santner 8-0-45-3 (w1), Neesham 7-0-26-0 (w4)
New Zealand
R B
M. Guptill not out 117 116
H. Nicholls b Hasan 53 80
K. Williamson lbw Mahmudullah 11 22
R. Taylor not out 45 49
Extras (lb3, w4) 7
Total (for 2 wickets, 44.3 overs) 233
Fall of wickets: 1-103 (Nicholls), 2-137 (Williamson),
Bowling: Mortaza 8.3-0-33-0 (w1), Saifuddin 7-0-43-0 (w2), M. Rahman 8-0-36-0, Hasan 8-1-42-1, S. Rahman 7-0-41-0, Mahmudullah 5-0-27-1, Sarkar 1-0-8-0 (w1)
Toss: Bangladesh
Result: New Zealand win by eight wickets
Man of the match: Martin Guptill
Series: New Zealand lead the three-match series 1-0