Bangladesh concedes T20 series in New Zealand

Bangladesh continued their dismal form in New Zealand as they conceded the three-match T20 series too, after a 28-run defeat in the rain-affected second match, that saw a drama over Tigers target to win the game at Mclean Park in Napier on Tuesday.

New Zealand compiled a hefty 173-5 in their innings, interrupted twice due to rain. The last time when rain put a break in their innings in 17.5 overs, the target for Bangladesh was set 148 in 16 overs by D/L method. However two overs after their innings, Bangladesh came to know that the revised target was 170. Later after some overs, Bangladesh again got a revised target of 171.

They didn’t even reach the target that was given in the first time as they were restricted to 142-7 in 16 overs. Glenn Phillips started in both batting and bowling in comfortable New Zealand win. By winning the game, the Kiwis took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. The hosts won the first match by 66 runs.

Glenn Philips hammered 31 bll-58 not out, that included five fours and two sixes. Daryl Mitchell was unbeaten on 34 off 16, hitting six fours. The duo took New Zealand to a big score after Bangladesh bowlers bowled well to curb the aggression of the top order batsman.

Martin Guptill struck 21 off 18 to give the side a flying start and alongside him, his fellow opener Finn Allen also provided the fireworks with 10 ball-17. But Bangladesh bowlers brought the side back in contention, claiming some wickets in quick succession that reduced New Zealand to 111-5 in 14th overs.

However fluent batting from Phillips and Mitchell made the target bigger for them as per D/L method. Off-spinner Mahedi Hasan was the highest wicket-taker for Bangladesh with 2-45 while Saifuddin, Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam picked up one wicket apiece.

Bangladesh though lost Liton Das (6) cheaply, they got going well thanks to opener Naim Sheikh and Soumya Sarkar, who showed necessary aggression to keep asking run rate under control.

They added 81 off 49 deliveries to give Bangladesh a glimmer of hope to break the win-drought in New Zealand. However Bangladesh’s hope was dashed once stand-in New Zealand captain Tim Southee removed Soumya, who snapped hislong sequence of failures, blasting 51 off 27 with five fours and three sixes.

Fast bowler Adam Milne who played the game since 2018, then dismissed skipper Mahmudullah Riyad to throw Bangladesh out the match. Riyad scored 21 off 12 with four deliveries.

Southee, Milne, Hamish Bennett and Phillips then sparked Bangladesh’s middle order collapse to make the victory easier one after Soumya looked to make it tougher for them. Southee, Milne and Bennett snared two wickets while Phillips took 1-20. The third and final T20 is on April 1 at Eden Park in Auckland.