Tigers scrape to 4-run victory
After an impressive batting display by Bangladesh, off-spinner Mahedi Hasan turned up with a clinical performance with the ball in hand as the Tigers defended a total of 141 for six and won the second game of the five-match T20I series against New Zealand by 4 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.
The game went right down to the wire when ace left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman, considered one of the most reliable T20 bowlers around the world, bowled a waist-high no in the final over and brought the equation down to Kiwis needing eight from the final two deliveries with the penultimate delivery being a free-hit.
Mustafizur, however, kept his nerve and gave away just three runs in the final two deliveries as Bangladesh restricted New Zealand to 137 for five with Kiwis' stand-in skipper Tom Latham left stranded at 65 not out off 49 deliveries. The win also meant that Bangladesh now lead the five-match series 2-0 and have now won eight T20Is in a calendar year for the first time ever.
Mahedi remained the most impressive with the ball today as the 26-year-old finished with figures of two for 12 in four overs, bowling at an economy rate of 3 -- lowest among bowlers of the two sides.
Shakib Al Hasan also picked up two crucial wickets. The premier all-rounder gave the Tigers their first breakthrough, removing Rachin Ravindra in the third over. He also broke a crucial 43-run third-wicket stand between Kiwi skipper Latham and Will Young by having the latter caught at short third man in the 11th over when the visitors were looking comfortable in their chase of a competitive total.
For New Zealand, Latham led from the front but his unbeaten fifty, featuring six boundaries and a solitary maximum, could not see his side over the line.
Earlier, after openers Liton Das and Mohammad Naim ensured Bangladesh get off to a commendable start, skipper Mahmudullah Riyad and wicketkeeper-batsman Nurul Hasan Sohan helped the Tigers to finish with a total which was the highest at the venue in eight previous T20Is.
Bangladesh openers Naim and Liton were able to give the side a very good start as the duo stitched together a 59-run opening stand. The Tigers, however, lost three quick wickets -- those of Liton, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan -- after that and were left in a precarious situation in the middle.
A 34-run stand between skipper Mahmudullah and Naim had brought back stability before the latter fall following a run-a-ball 39 while trying to accelerate after a steady start.
But some quick runs from Mahmudullah and wicketkeeper-batsman Nurul Hasan Sohan at the death saw Bangladesh finish with a competitive total. Mahmudullah remained unbeaten for a 32-ball 37, featuring five boundaries, while Nurul was caught in the final delivery of the innings after a nine-ball 13.
Shakib ends crucial partnership
Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan picked up the wicket of New Zealand batsman Will Young to end his crucial partnership with skipper Tom Latham during the two sides' second game of the five-match T20I series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.
When Shakib induced the outside edge of Young and had him caught at short third man, the premier all-rounder had ended an important 43-run thrid-wicket stand in the 11th over.
Before that, Bangladesh had picked up the wickets of Kiwi openers early in the innings after posting a decent total of 141 for six.
Kiwis get a move on
Early strikes from spinners Shakib Al Hasan and Mahedi Hasan had put Bangladesh on top after posting a competitive score of 141 for six against New Zealand in their second match of the five-match T20I series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today. However, the Kiwis recovered well, with skipper Tom Latham and Will Young providing some stability after the early slump.
Shakib gave Tigers the first breakthrough when Kiwi opener Rachin Ravindra saw his stumps shattered after completely missing his attempted pull shot in the third over.
Mahedi then scalped the wicket of the other opener in Tom Blundell in the very next over. Blundell came down the track to smash Mahedi but was completely deceived and failed to connect as Nurul Hasan Sohan made no mistake to stump him out.
The two new Kiwi batsmen -- skipper Tom Latham and Will Young -- have since then remained firm at the crease with the visitors looking to build up a partnership in their chase of a decent total.