New Zealand have defeated Bangladesh by a comprehensive margin of 52 runs in the third of five-match T20I series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday. With this win, they have kept the series alive as Tigers now lead the series 2-1. Bangladesh have missed an opportunity to seal the series as Tigers were the second best in every department of the game against an pumped up Kiwi team.
Chasing 128, Bangladesh was never in control of the match. Credit to Kiwi spinners Ajaz Patel and Cole McConchie who have shared seven wickets between them to roll over Bangladesh for 76, with two balls to spare. Mushfiqur was the lone fighter for his team, but he never really got going, managing only 37-ball 20, as Bangladesh kept losing wickets around him. Apart from Mushfiq, only Mohammad Naim (13) and Liton Das (15) crossed the double digit mark.
It was a splendid bowling display from New Zealand and terrible batting show from the hosts. A classic case of what can happen when you take things for granted. The openers came out all guns blazing and offered a brisk start to the chase, going at 8 an over until the third over, but once Liton played that needless swipe across the line one thought it was just a one off dismissal and the others would learn to play sensibly but it wasn't to be.
From 23/0 they went to 32/4 in the span of 4 overs. Mushfiqur looked completely out of touch and missed out on a few boundary balls which made things that much more difficult for the home side. New Zealand spinners were just too good. Gave nothing away and kept attacking the stumps to force false shots from the batters. The way Shakib approached his batting and got out would have left the Bangladeshi fans in complete shock. All in all, the surface had very little role to play in the sorry state of scorecard of the hosts.
Earlier after winning the toss, Kiwis opted to bat first and they received the first blow when Mustafizur Rahman removed opener Finn Allen (15). Mustafizur awarded a wicket-maiden by taking the wicket of Allen on his first over after the batter attempted to hit at mid-on but was caught by Mahmudullah.
Mohammad Saifuddin made the breakthrough for Bangladesh by thumping Will Young (20) and de Grandhomme for naught in the same over. Young wanted to flick the ball on the leg side but missed completely which resulted in an lbw.
Then, well-settled batsman Rachin Ravindra who scored 20-ball 20 fell prey to Mahmudullah. Following the wicket, Kiwi captain Tom Latham was also dismissed in the next over by Mahedi Hasan with a return catch to the bowler.
In the end, Henry Nicholls and Tom Blundell rescued the side by putting a 76-run partnership after the fall of top-order batsmen. At the end of 20 overs, the Kiwis scored a challenging 128/5.
