Tigers wilt in T20Is too
It was yet another day out in the middle for the Tigers and yet another heavy defeat for them. The latest one -- a 47-run defeat against the Black Caps at the Bay Oval on Friday -- means the visitors are now 2-0 down in the three-match T20 series and face another whitewash come next Sunday after their 3-0 submission in the ODI series a week ago.
The opening episode was a mirror image of the first T20I at Mclean Park, where both sides lost early wickets. The difference once again was one of the Black Caps batsmen carried his bat till the end while the visitors faltered in that crucial aspect once again.
New Zealand opener Colin Munro hit a blazing century in his side's impressive score of 195 for seven. The left-hander plundered 101 off 54 balls, hitting everything thrown at him by the Tigers' bowlers on way to his maiden hundred. He struck seven sixes and as many fours and he was particularly savage against off-spinner Mahmudullah, who conceded 28 runs in one over -- the 13th of the innings. This the most productive over after the previous one bowled by Shakib, who went for 15 runs. And these two overs completely changed the face of the game.
Munro, who became the fourth Kiwi batsman to score a T20I century, shared 100 runs off only 52 balls for the fifth wicket with Tom Bruce after they were reduced to 46 for three in 5.3 overs. Bruce also hit an impressive unbeaten 59 off 39 balls with four fours and a six.
The New Zealand score could easily have gone past the 200-mark had Rubel Hossain not bowled beautifully at the death. The right-arm pace bowler took three wickets and conceded just five runs in the last over. Munro only showed some respect to Mustafizur Rahman, who gave away 30 runs in his four overs without any success.
Bangladesh suffered a familiar top-order collapse like the first game that they lost by six wickets. Imrul Kayes was out for a duck, sweeping left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner straight to Bruce in the deep. Tamim Iqbal was looking good for his seven-ball 13 before being run out while attempting a quick single off a misfield. Stranded in the middle after being refused by Sabbir Rahman, the experienced left-hander failed to regain his crease. Shakib Al Hasan played a lofted drive straight to the cover fielder after scoring one off two balls. Don't blame him, after all this is the way he plays.
Bangladesh at 36 for three desperately needed a big partnership like New Zealand did after being caught in a similar situation. Sabbir and Soumya Sarkar gave hope. The left-right pair was doing what Munro and Bruce did, hitting the ball all over the park with authority. It was pleasing to see the pristine touches of Soumya and the arrogance of Sabbir. But at 104 for three in 10.3 overs when they were about to take the game away from the firm grip of the hosts, Soumya erred. He was caught at fine leg for a 30-ball 39 that contained three fours and two effortless sixes. Sabbir followed him soon after scoring a 32-ball 48. He offered a simple catch at long off while trying to smote leg-spinner Ish Sodhi with the wind. There was Mahmudullah's late show after Mosaddek Hossain was out to a brilliant diving catch by Santner at midwicket. Bangladesh's innings quickly folded for 148 in 18.1 overs.
And the pattern of Bangladesh's performance so far in batting, bowling or fielding is so consistent that one can be excused for not watching the next game at the same venue on Sunday.