Soumya Sarkar surpasses Sachin Tendulkar's big record in New Zealand, Bangladesh lose match

Bangladesh batter Soumya Sarkar entered his name in the record books with his imperious knock in the second ODI against New Zealand on Wednesday (December 20).

Opening the innings for Bangladesh in the second one-dayer at Saxton Oval in Nelson (New Zealand), Sarkar slammed a sublime ODI century. However, the record knock from the 30-year-old was not enough as New Zealand won the match by a margin of seven wickets.

Soumya Sarkar Breaks Sachin Tendulkar's Record

Despite a lean run in ODIs over the last two years and missing out on selection for Bangladesh's ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 squad, the left-hander belted 169 (151), hitting 22 fours and a pair of sixes.

Sarkar's effort against the Blackcaps is the highest score by a Bangladeshi cricketer away from home in an ODI. It is also the highest score in ODIs by a player from the sub-continent in New Zealand as he surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's 163* against the Kiwis in Christchurch in 2009.

The total of 291 is also Bangladesh's highest ODI score in New Zealand. After being put in to bat, Bangladesh found themselves in all sorts of trouble early on as they lost their first three wickets inside the first powerplay.

Sarkar lost his fourth partner in Towhid Hridoy (12) during the rebuild, but found help from senior wicket-keeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim, who scored 45 off 57 balls in a partnership of 91.

BAN vs NZ: Bangladeshi top-order disappoints in 2nd ODI

After Mushfiqur's dismissal to Jacob Duffy (3/51 from 10 overs), Sarkar pressed on to help his team pass 200, upping his rate of scoring while Mehidy Hasan Miraz (19) and Tanzim Hasan Sakib (13) attempted to chip in.

Mehidy was dismissed by New Zealand ODI debutant leg-spinner Adithya Ashok, who looked impressive despite finishing with figures of 1/63 from 10 overs next to his name.

New Zealand record emphatic win over Bangladesh

Fellow youngster William O'Rourke finished with 3/47 (9.5), taking all three wickets in the final over of the innings and preventing Soumya from breaking Litton Das' record of the highest ODI score by a Bangladesh player (176 in Sylhet against Zimbabwe in 2020).

New Zealand were emphatic in their response, chasing down the target of 292 with seven wickets in hand and with 22 balls to spare.

Will Young (89 from 94 balls) and Henry Nicholls (95 from 99 balls) led the way for the hosts, with Rachin Ravindra (45 from 33 balls) contributing to the top-order effort. Tom Latham (34* from 32) and Tom Blundell (24* from 20) closed out the chase in the 47th over.