Riding on superb fifty by captain Tom Latham followed by disciplined bowling by Ajaz Patel and Scott Kuggeleijn New Zealand beat Bangladesh by 27 runs in the fifth and final T20 of the five-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur in Dhaka on Friday (September 10).
Despite losing the match Bangladesh won the five-match series 3-2.
After winning the toss New Zealand chose to bat first and post 161 for five in 20 overs. Chasing the target Bangladesh lost opener Liton Das on 26. From here, they reduced to 46/4 in 7.2 overs.
Skipper Mahmudullah (23 off 21) and Afif Hossain put 63 runs for the fifth wickets stand before the former went out to Kuggeleijn.
Afif Hossain fought alone scoring the team’s highest 49 off 33 not out. But his effort was not enough to avoid defeat for the host team as no lower-order batters were able to accompany him. After 20 overs Bangladesh was able to score 134/8.
For New Zealand Ajaz Patel and Scott Kuggeleijn took two wickets each while Jacob Duffy, Cole McConchie, Ben Sears and Rachin Ravindra picked one wicket apiece.
Earlier, after winning the toss New Zealand decided to bat first at Mirpur and post 161/5 in 20 overs thanks to Latham’s 50 off 37 not out and Allen’s 41 off 24. Latham’s innings was adorned with two fours and as many sixes.
Openers Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra were solid today. They post 58 runs for the opening stand before Shoriful removed both of them in the same over. Pacer Shoriful Islam picked up the wickets of openers Rachin Ravindra and Finn Allen in the fourth and sixth ball of the 6th over of the innings to bring Bangladesh in the match. Before being dismissed to Shoriful Ravindra scored 17 off 12 and Finn Allen made 41 off 24. His innings were adorned with four fours and three sixes.
Spinner Affif Hossain struck in his first and innings’ 9th over to bring third breakthrough for Bangladesh in the fifth and final T20I over New Zealand at Mirpur today. Afifi belts out a big appeal for caught behind and the finger goes up. On a length and sliding across off from around the wicket, Young (6) simply wafts at it and snicks it behind to Nurul.
Nasum Ahmed could get the wicket in his first over if Shamim Hossain did not miss the catch of Finn Allen in the second over of the innings. He finally got wicket in his fourth ball of the 11th over. Nasum removed Colin de Grandhomme (9) and this time Shamim Hossain did not make mistake.
Nicholls and Latham put 35 runs for the fifth wickets stand. Taskin Ahmed brought the fifth breakthrough for Bangladesh picking up the wicket of Henry Nicholls. Nicholls made 21 off 21 before being dismissed to Taskin.
Latham and CE McConchie’s unbroken 43 runs stand for the sixth wickets stand to take New Zealand to 161/5 in 20 overs. Latham got his second fifty in the series while McConchie made 17 off 10.
For Bangladesh, Shoriful Islam took 2 wickets for runs. Afif Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, and Taskin Ahmed took one wicket apiece.
