Bangladesh vs New Zealand : 3rd T20 between New Zealand and Bangladesh won by the kiwis by 17 runs on DLS
Bangladesh 110-10 (19.2)
New Zealand 95-5 (14.4)
New Zealand won by 5 wickets as per the DLS Method (Series drawn as 1-1)
Bangladesh vs New Zealand 3rd T20 was won by the kiwis in a rain interrupted contest at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganai. It was a series decider and the series ended in a draw with both the teams winning one game and the 2nd match which was washed out. New Zealand won the toss and choose to field first .Bangladesh were bundled out on 110 not playing the entire 20 overs.6 of their batters didn’t enter into the double figures with the highest score of 17 by their skipper Shanto. The start for Bangladesh was pathetic to say the least and kept on giving their wickets away at regular intervals of the play. Santner was the highest wicket taker of the innings with 4 wickets with Southee Milne and Ben Sears each picking up 2 wickets .There was no big Partnership during the first innings which resulted in the lower score and in those conditons it was a below par score to say the least.
There was pressure on the blackcaps due to the series being on the line , Bangladesh vs New Zealand series was to be decided on this match. The blackcaps had a worst possible start to their innings with their first five wickets falling down one after another. Shoriful and Mehedi Hasan were outstanding with the ball and picked up two wickets each and that too very quickly in the start. but the finishers of the blackcaps Jimmy Neesham and Santner were there in the end and guided their team home with DLS coming into play. Both Neesham and Santner played very smartly and they knew rain in their minds and played according to that and guided their team home and winning the match and leveling the series.
In an exciting conclusion to the series, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mitchell Santner proudly lifted the trophy as the Bangladesh vs New Zealand 3rd T20 ended in a level 1-1 tie. The duo wore big smiles as they posed for the cameras, marking the culmination of a fiercely contested cricketing battle. Speaking about the match, Najmul Hossain Shanto acknowledged the excellent performance of the bowlers but pointed out that the batsmen fell short in making significant runs. Shanto expressed disappointment in the team’s inability to capitalize on good starts, identifying this as a crucial mistake in the game.
A standout performer in the series, Shoriful Islam, received the well-deserved Man of the Series award for his exceptional bowling display. With a total of 6 wickets to his name, Shoriful emerged as a rising star for Bangladesh, showcasing tremendous talent with the ball.
Claiming the Player of the Match title, Mitchell Santner shared his satisfaction with the victory. Santner attributed his success to changing his pace and highlighted the pitch’s assistance. He commended the seamers for their brilliance in the powerplay, emphasizing the effective use of wind by the pacers.
The Bangladesh vs New Zealand 3rd T20 concluded with a well-deserved celebration for both teams. Shanto and Santner’s smiles reflected the shared victory as the series ended on a thrilling note. With individual brilliance from Shoriful Islam and strategic excellence from Mitchell Santner, the match showcased the competitive spirit of cricket.
The Bangladeshi players have every reason to be proud of themselves. Despite losing the first two ODIs, they displayed remarkable character in the subsequent matches. Securing their first ODI victory on New Zealand soil was a significant achievement, followed by an impressive win in their first T20I game in the country. Although they fought gallantly in the final T20I, a subpar batting performance prevented them from crossing the finish line. Meanwhile, New Zealand didn’t showcase their best form in this series. Nevertheless, they can take satisfaction in concluding the year 2023 on a positive note with a well-deserved victory.