Soumya ‘sad’ despite record-breaking hundred

Soumya Sarkar's record-breaking ton went in vain as New Zealand eased to a seven-wicket win in the second ODI of the three-match series at the Saxton Oval in Nelson today.

The win in Nelson gives New Zealand an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series after their 44-run win in the first game on Sunday. The third and final ODI will be played in Napier on Saturday.

A superb 169 off 151 balls from the left-hander was not enough to end Bangladesh's miserable ODI streak in New Zealand, where they have now lost all of their 18 previous 50-over matches against the Black Caps.

 "I am happy with my hundred but sad that we lost. If we had won, it would have been more special," said player-of-the-match Soumya during a post-match presentation ceremony.

Soumya's innings powered Bangladesh to their best ever total of 291 against the Black Caps in New Zealand but the batter said that the total was not good enough to defend.

"If we had not lost three wickets in the powerplay, it might have made a difference. We got two partnerships in the middle but we lost wickets at crucial moments. If that had not happened, we would have gotten a good total," he explained.

Soumya reached a significant milestone along the way as his 169 is now the highest individual score by an Asian in New Zealand. He surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's previous best of 163 not out against New Zealand in Christchurch in 2009.  

"I am coming into the team after a long time. Not thinking too much, just watching the ball and trying to play my own game. (Favourite shot of the day) I think it has to be the pull shot over mid-wicket," Soumya added.

It was a superb innings by Soumya who bounced back from a duck last Sunday to smash 22 fours and two sixes. He was just short of the Bangladesh ODI batting record of 176 scored by Liton Das against Zimbabwe in March 2020.

Soumya hit out during a 91-run fifth-wicket partnership with veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim. Sarkar finally departed in the 49th over when seamer William O'Rourke had him caught behind, the first of three wickets the New Zealand bowler took in the final six balls.