In their second of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand at Saxton Oval today, Soumya Sarkar struck a career-best ODI score of 169 off just 151 deliveries to help Bangladesh record 291 all out in 49.5 overs, the highest ODI total for the Tigers against New Zealand in their backyard.
Along the way, Soumya accomplished another noteworthy goal: his score of 169 is currently the highest by an Asian person in New Zealand. In Christchurch in 2009, he beat the previous mark set by Sachin Tendulkar, which was 163 not out against New Zealand.
In an attempt to hit a William O’Rourke delivery for a boundary in the last over of the innings, Soumya gave a catch to extra cover, capping an explosive knock that included 22 boundaries and two maximums. After Liton Das’ 176 against Zimbabwe, the left-hander’s innings is now the second-best by a Bangladeshi player in One-Day Internationals.
Furthermore, it was Soumya’s third ODI ton.
Soumya increased the ante shortly after reaching the much anticipated three-figure mark off 116 deliveries, providing Bangladesh with the much-needed run-rate lift in the latter stages of the innings.
After reaching 100, Soumya hit Adam Milne for two consecutive boundaries in the 41st over, one on a short delivery over mid-wicket and the other on a drive over mid-off. In Milne’s next over, he produced his finest shot of the innings when the left-hander raced down the ground to smash a short delivery over mid-wicket for a ninety-meter six.
In just 28 deliveries, Soumya advanced from 100 to 150 with a flurry of boundaries.
To help Bangladesh recover from a dangerous 44 for three, Soumya had been outstanding in stands of 91, 61, and 40 for the fifth, sixth, and seventh wickets with Mushfiqur Rahim (45 off 57), Mehedi Hasan Miraz (19 off 26), and Tanzim Hasan Sakib (13 off 11).