Oram inspires Black Caps to victory

Jacob Oram led New Zealand to a crushing 146-run win over Bangladesh in a one-sided opening one-day international at Napier.

The home side had struggled early on but Oram led an astonishing late onslaught which saw the hosts reach 336 for nine.

The hosts lost two early wickets before a third-wicket stand of 98, but then stuttered to 135 for five before their much-vaunted lower middle order found their stride in style.

Neil Broom made a valuable 71 and put on 52 with captain Daniel Vettori (32), but the fireworks really began when the powerful Oram marched to the wicket to blast 83 from 40 balls, adding 123 in only 11.1 overs with Broom.

Shafiul Islam took a defiant four for 68 for the Tigers who had started well, conceding just one run in the first three overs before dangerous opener Brendon McCullum was run out for an uncharacteristic nine-ball duck.

Martin Guptill followed for two with the score on just 19, but ODI debutant Peter Ingram made 69 as he and Ross Taylor, who made 51 from 52 balls, steadied the ship.

The end of Ingram's impressive 74-ball knock was swiftly followed by the departure of all-rounder James Franklin - promoted to number five - for just two and then Taylor shortly afterwards, slog-sweeping Naeem Islam to Mahmudullah on the square-leg boundary.

But the 10-over alliance between Broom and Vettori got the Kiwis back on track once again and paved the way for Oram to do the late damage.

The first four overs of the batting powerplay yielded 22, 17, 14 and 25 runs, Oram central to the carnage as he blasted eight fours and five sixes and maintained a strike rate of 207.5 throughout his spectacular innings.

Daryl Tuffey ensured Oram's departure - clean bowled making room in an attempt to smear Shafiul out of the ground - did not stall the momentum completely.

Shafiul was well supported by Naeem, whose 10 overs brought him one for 51, but Mahmudullah was curiously only used for three overs.

Bangladesh's reply got off to a good start as opening pair Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes put on 71 for the first wicket.

But when Kayes (33) was caught by McCullum off Andy McKay the momentum was lost.

Bangladesh lost Mohammad Ashraful and Raqibul Hasan before the departure of Iqbal for 62, caught by McCullum off Vettori, saw them slump to 119 for four.

The visitors lost Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim cheaply but a defiant run-a-ball 23 from Mahmudullah only served to delay the inevitable.

The steady fall of wickets continued until Bangladesh were all out for 190 as Guptill claimed the last two wickets and finished with two for seven

Vettori claimed three for 33 and Oram backed up his batting with two for 33.