New Zealand complete 3-0 series sweep over Bangladesh
Whitewash completed. It was the time for New Zealand to do that on their home turf and they did it in some style against a hopelessly out of sort Tigers at the Saxton Oval in Nelson today.
The Kiwis won the third and final game by eight wickets to clinch the three-match series 3-0. Neil Broom might have missed on what could have been a back-to-back century for three runs, but his second wicket partnership of 179 runs with skipper Kane Willimson saw the home side cruise to 239 for 2 with 8.4 overs to spare.
Willimson, who missed out in the first game, struck an unbeaten 95 while James Neesham scored an unbeaten 23-ball 28.
Bangladesh pace sensation Mustafizur Rahman, who returned for the final game after missing the first of the double-header on this picturesque ground, was the only bowler for the visitors who could make any impact on a placid wicket. He removed Tom Latham in his first over for 4. He almost had Broom for a duck with a beautiful cutter that the batsman could fend off to first slip where Imrul Kayes dropped a dolly.
It could have reduced the home side to virtually 16-3 with opener Martin Guptill already back in the dressing room with a hamstring injury. Mustafizur did account for Broom, thanks to a fantastic catch by Tigers captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza at gully. But by that time the match as a contest was all but over.
The defeat ends an eventful year for the Tigers in a most punishing fashion and painfully though the batting collapse was almost a replay of the second match here on Thursday.
Earlier, Bangladesh wasted a wonderful century stand for the first wicket and eventually limped to 239-9.
Openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes put on 102 runs after skipper Mashrafe had won the toss and decided to bat on a good wicket under glorious sunshine. Tamim hit a cautious 59, his first half century after five innings, while Imrul struck 44. The pair was going along nicely before Imrul was caught brilliantly at short third man by Broom, who plucked a one-handed catch running behind his shoulder.
The only other significant contribution to the total was wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan’s 44 off 38 balls. Sabbir Rahman looked impressive for his 19 before being caught down the leg side off pace bowler Matt Henry.
Mahmudullah’s misery in the series continued. The right-hander, who scored naught and one in his first two games, scored three before pulling a bouncer straight to the throat of the short mid-wicket fielder.
Tamim, who completed his 50 off 71 balls, got out in the similar fashion he did in the previous game -- charging down the wicket for a slog but top-edging it to Broom at point.
Shakib was playing sensibly before he was run out for 19 while chasing a quick single.
Bangladesh were reduced to 168-5. It soon turned into 170-6 when Mosaddek was trapped right in front of off-break bowler Jeetan Patel. Tanbir Hayder once again failed to justify his inclusion as a leg-spinning all-rounder when he got out for 3, leaving the scoreboard at 179-7.
The damage-limitation job was then left on Nurul Hasan and Mashrafe, who took the score past 200 with a 33-run partnership for the eighth wicket. Mashrafe scored 14 before being holed out in the deep while attempting a heave against left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner.
Nurul played very well for a successive game for his 44 off 38 balls that contained three fours and a massive six in the last over.