Blundell fifty steadies New Zealand after initial struggles

New Zealand batter Tom Blundell hit a fifty while putting together a 95-run stand with Henry Nicholls to dig out the Blackcaps from a precarious position that saw them lose three wickets for 36 runs in the second ODI of the three-match series against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Blundell put away five fours and brought up his fifty in 54 deliveries in the 26th over, taking New Zealand to 130 for three but in the following over, the visitors were pegged back again when they lost set batter Nicholls on 49 runs.

Pacer Khaled Ahmed came around the wicket and pushed it through on a back-of-a-length outside off-stump. Left-hander Nicholls tried to steer it through third-man but managed to nick it to wicketkeeper Liton Das after scoring a 61-ball 49 that featured six boundaries. 

Nicholl's dismissal reduced New Zealand to four down for 131 and brought Rachin Ravindra to the crease.