Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto praised his team for achieving their first-ever Twenty20 victory against New Zealand in the opening match of the three-game series in Napier today.

“Really excited and really proud with the way we played today,” Shanto said immediately after his side won the match by five wickets.

The Tigers secured the win, thanks to impressive performances by bowlers Shoriful Islam (3-26) and Mahedi Hasan (3-14), limiting the Kiwis to 134-9. Captain Shanto acknowledged the bowlers for adapting well to the conditions and executing their plans, emphasizing the importance of quick learning.

Shoriful and Sakib performed admirably with the new ball, while Sheikh Mahedi bowled effectively in the given conditions, according to Shanto. The unbeaten 42 by Liton Das and a valuable 19 from player-of-the-match Mahedi ensured victory with eight balls to spare.

Having previously led Bangladesh to their first ODI win over New Zealand in the same venue, Shanto now wants the team to focus on the upcoming two games, aiming for their maiden series win in the country. He expressed confidence in the team but stressed the need to plan for the next T20 and urged everyone to do their jobs.