The Blackcaps have coasted to an eight-wicket win over Bangladesh to open their Twenty20 tri-series account at Christchurch.
After an excellent all-round bowling performance, led by spinner Michael Bracewell, limited the tourists to just 137/8, opener Devon Conway anchored a surgical run chase that cost just two wickets, as the New Zealanders retained complete control of the contest from start to finish in their 18th over.
Conway was at his elegant best at Hagley Oval, delving deep into his arsenal of shots on his way to an unbeaten 71 off just 50 balls, including seven fours and one six.
The only concern for the Blackcaps will be the abdominal strain that forced Adam Milne from the field. Coaching staff later assured the move was simply precautionary, but a similar issue has kept Lockie Ferguson out of action this series and another blow to the fast-bowling stocks just a fortnight out from the T20 World Cup would be a mammoth blow to their chances.
The win is the Blackcaps' first of the tri-series and should help erase the memory of their tough outing the night before against unbeaten Pakistan.
Bangladesh got off to a promising start, courtesy of a 41-run partnership for the second wicket between Litton Das and Najmul Hossain Shanto.
When the impressive Bracewell (2/14) sent Das (15) packing with a straightforward caught and bowled, and Shanto (33 from 29 balls) holed out the next over to give Ish Sodhi his 100th T20I wicket, the momentum was sucked from the Tigers innings.
Afif Hossain (24) occupied the crease valiantly, but there was little impact from the partners that came and went around him, as well as a scarcity of boundaries.
Nurul Husan (25no off 12) came to the rescue with some hefty late blows to add a glimmer more respectability to the Bangladesh total, crushing Sodhi for consecutive sixes in a crucial 18-run penultimate over.
Sodhi, Bracewell, Southee and Boult each picked up two wickets in an excellent all-round bowling effort, which was frequently let down by shoddy catching in the field.
In response, the Blackcaps made a cautious start to their pursuit, wary of being tripped up an over-enthusastic approach to chasing a low total.
After Finn Allen departed in the fourth over, Devon Conway and Kane Williamson settled into a metronomic runscoring rhythm.
They needled their way to an 85-run partnership, before the skipper (30 off 29) spooned a catch to mid-on in the 15th over, with the score at 109.
Conway kept his head down and continued to add to his highlight reel of strokes, as Glenn Phillips joined him to provide the final few blows, including consecutive sixes to close out the win.
The Blackcaps will move on to face Pakistan on Tuesday, when they'll have a chance to avenge their six-wicket defeat on Saturday.
Bangladesh 137/8 (Shanto 33, Bracewell 2/14, Boult 2/25, Sodhi 2/31) New Zealand 142/2 (Conway 70no, Williamson 30)
New Zealand win by eight wickets
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