New Zealand end Bangladesh tour on winning note with convincing T20 wictory
Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
New Zealand have ended their Bangladesh tour on a high, beating the hosts in the third and final Twenty20 International at Mirpur to level the series 1-1.
Chasing a modest 103 in a rain-shortened match at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Saturday, the visitors reached the target for the loss of four wickets with 20 balls to spare.
The match was reduced to 15 overs a side under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method after damp conditions delayed play.
The Tigers briefly had the Black Caps under pressure, reducing them to 33-4 by the end of the fifth over.
Shoriful Islam struck three early blows, removing Katene Clarke, Dane Cleaver and Tim Robinson, while Mahedi Hasan dismissed Nick Kelly.
But Bevon Jacobs transformed the chase with a forceful unbeaten 62 off 31 balls. Needing 70 from 60 deliveries after the fourth wicket fell, he took control of the innings, hitting five fours and three sixes.
Dean Foxcroft provided steady support with 15 not out as Jacobs sealed the win in emphatic fashion with a six. He was named player of the match.
Earlier, the Kiwis chose to field after winning the toss and quickly imposed themselves with disciplined bowling.
Bangladesh were bowled out for 102, unable to build partnerships in a stop-start innings marked by poor shot selection and regular wickets.
Towhid Hridoy offered the only significant resistance, making 33 from 24 balls with two sixes. But he found little support as New Zealand’s bowlers maintained pressure throughout.
Nathan Smith struck early by removing Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain Emon, before Jayden Lennox, Ish Sodhi, Josh Clarkson and Ben Sears kept Bangladesh in check.
Sears later helped finish off the innings with a double strike.
New Zealand had won the first ODI on Apr 17 before Bangladesh fought back to take the three-match one-day series with successive victories.
Bangladesh won the opening T20 in Chattogram, while the second match at the same venue was washed out, leaving the Mirpur fixture to decide the series.