‘Partnerships were missing’

Bangladesh showed an underwhelming batting performance while chasing a comfortable target and were bundled out for 76 in 19.4 overs -- the Tigers' joint second-lowest total in T20Is -- against New Zealand in the third T20I of five-match series as the Kiwis trounced the Tigers by 52 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today. 

Both captains echoed the same sentiment, mentioning that 'partnerships between the batsmen' were pivotal to decide the game's fate.

Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah Riyad, who was adjudged the player-of-the-match for his composed 37 off 32 in the second T20I, scored only three off seven in today's game. He pointed out that the lack of partnerships from his batsmen cost them the match.

"We started well, but we lost wickets in a cluster, and couldn't capitalise on it. I think the middle order has been batting well, the top order has been doing a good job, what was missing were the partnerships and hopefully, we can come back hard," Mahmudullah said during the presentation ceremony. 

The losing captain, however, sounded optimistic about making a comeback for the remaining matches of the series. 

"Still two games to go and hopefully we like to win the next game and the series," he added. 

Meanwhile, New Zealand stand-in skipper Tom Latham was delighted to pick up his first win in the series, uttering the partnerships between their batsmen were key for the win.

"The way we were able to build partnerships even though we lost quite a few wickets early. We probably got around the par score and to take wickets upfront, it was always going to be difficult at the back end. Death phase can be tricky but Tom [Blundell] and Henry [Nicholls] absorbed the pressure to get us to a score that was ideal," Latham said.

Latham also complimented his bowling department for putting out a lethal performance.

"I thought the spinners were fantastic in all three games. The conditions are different to what we have back home, but looking at the Aussie series, there were no surprises for us. I still feel we have a bit left in the tank for a complete performance," the Kiwis' skipper added. 

New Zealand spinner Ajaj Patel, picking up four wickets for 16 in four overs, was adjudged the player-of-the-match. The left-arm spinner was happy to make the best assessment of the condition of the wicket.

"I think as a spinner you thrive on conditions like this. It was nice to get a few up at the top and our spinners collectively did a good job. I think both Cole [McConchie] and Rachin [Ravindra] bowled brilliantly and we identified what ball was the hardest to play on this surface. We know these conditions may not be necessarily easy, but overall it was a good bowling effort," Ajaj said.