Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh lost to New Zealand by 52 runs in their third Twenty20 International (T20I) match at the flood-lit Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur on Sunday.
Bangladesh still lead 2-1. The hosts will take on the Kiwis in the fourth T20I at the same venue on September 8.
Electing to bat first, New Zealand piled up a fighting total of 128 for the loss of five wickets in the stipulated 20 overs.
In reply, Bangladesh were all out for 76 off 19.4 overs.
Bangladesh lost their wickets in regular intervals as the batsmen failed to make any notable partnership.
Bangladesh had a modest start as opener Liton Das (15) was trapped leg before wicket by Cole McConchie when the hosts’ total was 23.
One-down Mahedi Hasan (1) was caught at the short midwicket by Henry Nicholls off Ajaz Patel when the home side’s
score was 24 for the loss of two wickets. Second-down Shakib Al Hasan (0) was caught at the long-on by McConchie off Patel when the Tigers total was 25 for the loss of three wickets.
Opener Mohammad Naim (13) was clean bowled out by Ravindra when Bangladesh’s total was 32 for the loss of four wickets.
Fourth-down Mahmudullah (3) was caught at the extra cover by Nicholls off Patel when the home side’s score was 43 for the loss of five wickets.
Fifth-down Afif Hossain (0) was bowled out by Patel when Bangladesh’s total was 43 for the loss of six wickets.
Sixth-down Nurul Hasan Sohan (8) was caught at the long-on by Blundell off McConchie when the hosts’ score was 57 for the loss of seven wickets.
Seventh-down Mohammad Saifuddin (8) was trapped leg before wicket by McConchie when the Tigers’ total was 66 for the loss of eight wickets.
Eighth-down Nasum Ahmed (0) was bowled out by Scott Kuggeleijn when the home side’s score was 70 for the loss of nine wickets.
Number-10 batsman Mustafizur Rahman ( 4) was caught at the deep midwicket by substitute DAJ Bracewell off Grandhomme. With this Bangladesh’s innings came to an end.
Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten with 18 runs.
Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel captured four wickets at the cost of 16 runs, while McConchie claimed three wickets giving 15 runs. Patel was adjudged the Man of the Match for his outstanding bowling performance.
Grandhomme, Ravindra and Kuggeleijn took one wicket each for three, 13 and 14 runs respectively.
Earlier, New Zealand had a shaky start as opener Finn Allen (15) was caught at the mid-on by Mahmudullah Riyad off Mustafizur Rahman when the Kiwis total was just 16.
Then opener Rachin Ravindra and one-down Will Young repaired the damage adding together 30 runs in the second wicket stand before Will Young (20) was trapped leg before wicket by Mohammad Saifuddin when the visitors’ score was 46 for the loss of two wickets.
Second-down Colin de Grandhomme (0) was trapped LBW by Mohammad Saifuddin when the tourists’ total was 46 for the loss of three wickets.
Opener Rachin Ravindra (20) was clean bowled out by Mahmudullah Riyad when the touring side’s score was 58 for the loss of four wickets.
Third-down Tom Latham ( 5) was caught & bowled by Mahedi Hasan when the Black Caps’ total was 62 for the loss of five wickets.
After Latham’s dismissal, Henry Nicholls and Tom Blundell mended the innings contributing together 66 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket partnership.
Nicholls remained unbeaten with 36. His 29-ball innings had three fours.
Blundell remained unbeaten with 30. He hit three fours in his run-a-ball innings.
Mohammad Saifuddin bagged two wickets in the space of 28 runs, while Mahudullah, Mahedi Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman took one wicket each for 10, 27 and 29 runs respectively.
