Dhaka: A change of format did little to alter Bangladesh's batting fortunes with Mahmudullah's quick 52 runs from 47 balls the only knock of note in their 141-8 batting first in the opening Twenty20 against New Zealand in Napier on Tuesday.

The tourists went into the match looking for improvement after losing all three matches in the 50-over format last week.

But, after winning the toss they again found themselves struggling to build a competitive total even when assisted by 18 wides from the New Zealand bowlers.

Mahmudullah kept out a yorker to avoid a hat trick with the first ball he faced and went on to produce his best innings on tour so far, with Mosaddek Hossain adding 20 and Sabbir Rahman 16.

Mahmudullah says, ‘I enjoyed the innings. In the ODIs I did not have the rhythm. I like the short boundaries, but the hat-trick ball was a tough one—a Yorker. They [NZ] executed their plans well. If we take wickets with the new ball, we can keep them under pressure.’

The debutants —Lockie Ferguson and Ben Wheeler had a good day out, collecting five wickets between them, Ferguson took 2 wickets and Wheeler took 3 wickets.

Lockie Ferguson also bowled Mahmudullah in his last over to finish with three for 32 while fellow debutant Ben Wheeler took two for 22.

Earlier, New Zealand swept the 50-over series last week and Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza said he was keen for his side to bounce back.

It is the first shortened version of the game played by both sides since the World Twenty20 early last year.

New Zealand has included a debutant in middle-order batsman Tom Bruce while Neil Broom, who starred in the ODIs, has been brought into the line-up in place of the injured Martin Guptill.