During the final one-day match between Bangladesh A and New Zealand A on May 10 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, a strange moment involving wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan Sohan cost Bangladesh five crucial penalty runs. In the fifth over of New Zealand A’s run chase, Sohan moved from his usual wicketkeeping spot and stood at first slip, possibly trying to distract batter Rhys Mariu.
Fast bowler Ebadot Hossain bowled a delivery outside the off stump, which nipped back in. Mariu left the ball, but it unexpectedly struck a helmet that was lying behind the stumps. This helmet belonged to Sohan and was improperly placed on the field. According to cricket rules, if the ball hits a helmet placed on the ground, the batting side is awarded five penalty runs. This incident turned out to be a turning point in the match, especially since Bangladesh A was defending a relatively low total.
New Zealand A’s Successful Chase
Despite losing the series, New Zealand A managed to end their tour on a positive note by winning the third and final one-dayer. Bangladesh A batted first and put up a total of 226 runs in 47.4 overs. Nasum Ahmed was the top scorer with a patient 67 off 97 balls, while Yasir Ali Rabbi contributed a quick 63 off 65 deliveries. Their efforts helped Bangladesh post a competitive total, but the rest of the batting lineup failed to make big contributions.
For New Zealand A, Adithya Ashok claimed three wickets, while Jayden Lennox, Ben Lister, and Dean Foxcroft took two wickets each. In reply, New Zealand got off to a strong start with an opening stand of 77 runs between Rhys Mariu and Dale Phillips in just 11.2 overs. However, the middle order collapsed, leaving them at 166 for six. Despite the pressure, the lower middle order held their nerve and guided the team to victory.
Match Finish and Key Performers
With the match slipping away, Dean Foxcroft and Zakary Foulkes played mature innings to secure the win for New Zealand A. Foxcroft remained unbeaten on 36 off 43 balls, while Foulkes supported him with 28 not out off 42 deliveries. Together, they stitched a match-winning partnership that helped their team reach the target with 10 balls to spare.
For Bangladesh A, Nasum Ahmed, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, and Nayeem Hasan picked up two wickets each. Although Bangladesh had already won the series by taking the first two matches, this final game highlighted the importance of discipline and awareness on the field.
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