New Zealand picked up a hard-fought 15-run win over Bangladesh in their one-off Twenty20 on Wednesday. The win marked their only success of the tour as the Black Caps were mauled 3-0 in the three-ODI series, while the two-Test series was washed by rain.Bangladesh were 189 for nine after their 20 stipulated overs, chasing New Zealand’s 204 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
The visitors, who opted to bat first, started well with their 73-run opening partnership between Hamish Rutherford and Anton Devcich.
The seemingly threatening stand was broken by Sohag Gazi in the eighth over when Rutherford’s (17) attempted big hit landed in Nasir Hossain’s hands in the deep.
Abdur Razzak struck next, sending back Devcich for 59.
The opener smashed ten fours and a six in his 31-ball innings before mistiming a slog sweep only to be caught at the deep mid-wicket.
The Kiwis stayed on course of a modest total with their third-wicket partnership of 93 runs between Ross Taylor and Colin Munro.
Taylor (28) top edged a full toss to be caught at cover.
Munro was unbeaten on 73, off 39 deliveries, smashing three fours and five sixes to become the Man of the Match.
Al-Amin Hossain took the last two wickets for Bangladesh.
In reply, Bangladesh got off to a disastrous start losing three in the first two overs at the score on 19.
Shamsur Rahman smashed a boundary before he flicked a Tim Southee delivery to Mitchell McClenaghan’s hand in the second ball of their innings.
Ziaur Rahman (6) lost his leg stump in the last delivery of the Southee over.
Mominul Haque (9) top edged a short delivery of McClenaghan high in the air and was caught by Kyle Mills at mid-on in the second over.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Naeem Islam tried a recovery for the hosts, adding 43 quick runs in their fourth wicket partnership.
Kyle Mills, New Zealand stand-in skipper, struck to break the partnership in the fifth over. Naeem (18) mistimed a slog to be caught at mid-wicket.
Nasir Hossain then paired with the Bangladesh skipper added 54 runs in their fifth wicket stand before Mushfiq was out caught for 50 off a Corey Anderson delivery.
Mushfiq pulled off his maiden fifty in the shortest form of cricket from 28 deliveries, with seven fours and a six.
Nasir Hossain (28) was the sixth man to go in the next over. He smashed a Nathan McCullum flighted delivery hard back to the bowler.
Sohag Gazi (24 off 15 deliveries) was run out after a 57-run seventh wicket stand with Mahmudullah in the 17th over.
Mahmudullah was gone in the next over, leaving the hosts at the edge their first defeat in their engagement with the touring New Zealand team. His 34-run innings that featured three sixes was built with 25 deliveries.
Abdur Razzak was bowled for a duck in the first delivery of the last over by Southee.
The host innings ended at 189-9 with Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Al-Amin Hossain unbeaten on seven and five respectively. – bdnews24.com
