Even with a second-string side, the Blackcaps were expected to put up a fight against Bangladesh in the opening T20 international in Dhaka.
But being bowled out for 60, with two debutants facing four balls in total, was not in the plan as New Zealand equalled their lowest total in the shortest form of the game.
Rachin Ravindra fell to the third ball of the match, scooping his first ball in international cricket back to bowler Mehdi Hasan, on a wicket best described as slow.
By the fourth over, the talented left-hander was joined in the dugout by Tom Blundell (2), Will Young (5) and Colin de Grandhomme (1) as the Blackcaps crumbled to 9/4.
Captain Tom Latham and his fellow Cantabrian Henry Nicholls set about restoring the innings, as the Blackcaps looked to post a score above 121 - the par score in Dhaka.
But following Latham's poorly timed dismissal in the 11th over for 18, New Zealand wilted, losing their final six wickets for 16 runs.
Just Latham (18) and Nicholls (18) reached double figures as Bangladesh rolled the tourists for 60, inside 17 overs.
There was early resistance with the ball with Cole McConchie bouncing back from a duck with the bat to take a wicket with his first ball as an international, when Mohammad Naim (1) hit him straight to Nicholls at cover.
Liton Das was stumped by Latham of Ajaz Patel in the next over to leave the Tigers at 7/2 in the third over.
But Shakib Al Hasan (25) and Mushfiqur Rahim (16) got the innings back on track and avoided any wobbles in the Bangladesh dugout.
Ravindra nabbed Shakib when the left-hander played back to a quicker ball and edged through to Latham, but by that point, the target was just 24 runs away.
Captain Mahmudullah joined Rahim and the total was achieved with six overs to spare.
It was a disappointing result for a team missing an entire T20 Cricket World Cup squad, but more will be expected as the series goes deeper.
All five games will be played in Dhaka, with the second T20 taking place on Friday night.
At a glance:
New Zealand 60 (Latham 18, Nicholls 18, Mustafizur 3/12, Nasum 2/5, Saifuddin 2/7)
Bangladesh 62/3 (Shakib 25, Patel 1/7, Ravindra 1/21, McConchie 1/19)
