Sports Reporter :
New Zealand (NZ) won the Twenty20 International (T20I) series 2-0 defeating Bangladesh by 28 runs, according to Duckworth/ Lewis method in the rain-interrupted second T20I cricket match at McLean Park in Napier, New Zealand on Tuesday.
Sent into bat first, the Kiwis piled up a fighting total of 173 for the loss of five wickets in 17.5 overs before rain halted their innings.
It may be mentioned that Bangladesh team first time knew that their winning target was 148 off 16 overs. Mohammad Naim and Liton Das, the two openers played nine balls scoring 12 runs. But later, The Match Referee told to Bangladesh officials that their winning target was 171 in 16 overs, which the touring side paid heavily.
Bangladesh were restricted to 142 for the loss of seven wickets in 16 overs.
Bangladesh had a sorrow start as opener Liton Das (6) was caught at the deep square leg by Glenn Phillips off Hamish Bennett when Bangladesh’s score was just 13.
Then Mohammad Naim and Soumya Sarkar fought back contributing together 81 runs for the second wicket partnership before Soumya was caught at the long-on by Adam Milne off Tim Southee when the tourists’ total was 94 for the loss of two wickets.
Soumya cracked a stormy 51. He hit three sixes and five fours in his 27-ball innings. It was Soumya’s third T20I half-century.
After Soumya’s dismissal, Bangladesh batsmen failed to make any notable partnership.
Naim made 38 from 35 balls featuring four fours.
Mahmudullah Riyad scored 21 from 12 balls including four fours.
Tim Southee, Hamish Bennett and Adam Milne bagged two wickets each at the cost of 21, 31 and 34 runs respectively.
Glenn Phillips took one wicket for 20 runs.
Earlier, openers Martin Guptill and Finn Allen made a modest start adding together 37 in the opening stand before Finn Allen (17) was caught at the square leg by Mohammad Naim off Taskin Ahmed.
Later, Will Young and Glenn Phillips built a remarkable partnership. They put on together 39 runs in the fourth wicket stand before Young (14) was stumped out by Liton Das off Mahedi Hasan when New Zealand’s score was 94 for the loss of four wickets.
At one stage New Zealand’s score was 111 for the loss of five wickets.
Then Phillips and Daryl Mitchell added together 62 runs in the unbroken six-wicket stand before rain stopped the Kiwis innings.
Phillips remained unbeaten with 58. His 31-ball innings was studded with five fours and two sixes. Phillips was adjudged the Man of the Match.
Mitchell remained unbeaten with 34. He hit six fours in his 16-ball innings.
Mahedi Hasan bagged two wickets instead of 45 runs, while Shoriful Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin, Taskin Ahmed got one wicket each for 16, 35 and 49 runs respectively.
