Sabbir Hossain :
Bangladesh Cricket team won the Twenty20 International (T20I) series 3-1 with one match in the hand after thrashing New Zealand Cricket team by six wickets in their fourth T20I at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur on Wednesday. It is for the first time that Bangladesh clinched a T20I series against New Zealand after a historic victory.
Bangladesh will face New Zealand in the fifth and last T20I at the same venue tomorrow. The match will start at 4.00pm (Bangladesh Standard Time).
Chasing New Zealand Cricket team’s paltry total of 93 off 19.3 overs, Bangladesh sailed home making 96 for the loss of four wickets when they had five balls to spare.
Bangladesh had a sorrow start as opener Liton Das (6) was caught at the deep square leg by Finn Allen off Cole McConchie when Bangladesh’s score was eight.
One-down Shakib Al Hasan failed to do justice for his name as he (8) was stumped out by wicketkeeper Tom Latham off Ajaz Patel when Bangladesh’s total was 32 for the loss of two wickets. Ace batsman Mushfiqur Rahim (0) failed to shine with the willow as he was bowled out by Patel when the hosts’ score was 32 for the loss of three wickets.
Then Mahmudullah Riyad and Mohammad Naim rescued their team from danger contributing together 35 runs in the fourth wicket partnership before Naim was run out by a joint-effort of substitute DAJ Bracewell and wicketkeeper Latham when Bangladesh’s total was 67 for the loss of four wickets.
Riyad remained unbeaten with 43. His 48-ball captain’s knock was studded with two sixes and a four.
Naim made 29 from 35 balls featuring one four and one six.
After Naim’s dismissal, Riyad and Afif Hossain guided their team to overhaul the winning target adding together 29 runs in the unbroken five-wicket stand.
Afif remained unbeaten with six runs.
Patel bagged two wickets for nine runs, while McConchie took one wicket conceding 34 runs.
Most of the batsmen of New Zealand failed to face the tight and controlled bowling attack of Bangladesh. Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed and left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman captured four wickets each at the cost of 10 and 12 runs respectively. Nasum Ahmed was adjudged the Man of the Match for his superb bowling performance. Mohammad Saifuddin and Mahedi Hasan took one wicket for 16 and 21 runs respectively.
Will Young was the only batsman of New Zealand who shone with the willow. He made 46 from 48 balls featuring five fours and a sixer.
Nasum Ahmed gave his team early breakthrough as opener Rachin Ravindra (0) was caught at the short fine leg by Mohammad Saifuddin off left-arm spinner when the Kiwis total was just zero.
Opener Finn Allen (12) was caught at the point by Mohammad Saifuddin off Nasum Ahmed when the tourists’ score was 16 for the loss of two wickets.
Then Tom Latham and Will Young repaired the damage adding together 35 runs for the third wicket partnership before Latham (21) was stumped out by wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan off Mahedi Hasan when the visitors’ total was 51 for the loss of three wickets.
Third-down Henry Nicholls (1) was bowled out by Nasum Ahmed when the touring side’s score was 52 for the loss of four wickets.
Fourth-down Colin de Grandhomme (0) was caught behind by Nurul Hasan off Nasum Ahmed when the Kiwis’ total was 52 for the loss of five wickets.
Fifth-down Tom Blundell (4) was caught at the mid-on by Mohammad Naim off Mustafizur Rahman when the Black Caps’ score was 72 for the loss of six wickets.
Sixth-down Cole McConchie (0) was caught & bowled by Mustafizur Rahman when the tourists’ total was 74 for the loss of seven wickets.
Seventh-down Ajaz Patel (4) was bowled out by Mohammad Saifuddin when the visitors’ score was 91 for the loss of eight wickets.
Second-down Will Young was caught at the cover by Mahmudullah Riyad off Mustafizur Rahman when the touring side’s total was 93 for the loss of nine wickets.
Number-10 batsman Blair Tickner (2) was caught at the third man by Mahedi Hasan off Mustafizur Rahman and New Zealand’s innings was concluded.
