Tigers end NZ series with defeat
New Zealand clinched the fifth and final T20I by 27 runs at Mirpur yesterday in a surface that provided much more to batters than the previous matches. Bangladesh, coming into the match having already sealed the series, fought back with Afif Hossain's unbeaten 49 in chase of 162 but eventually the Kiwi bowlers prevailed with intelligent pace variations to seize victory.
Despite coach Russell Domingo previously insisting that there were no issues at the top-order, the Tigers' problems at the top became apparent in chase of 161 for five posted by New Zealand.
The start from Liton Das and Mohmmad Naim was stable as they reached 18 for no loss after three overs but things soon unravelled when Liton sliced one in the fifth over off Ajaz Patel to Scott Kuggeleijn at point and departed after a 11-ball 10.
Soumya Sarkar (4 off 9) did not trouble the scorers much, falling in much the same manner as Liton as Bangladesh, having finished the Powerplay at 35/1, slumped to 39 for two after seven overs. The bounce on the surface was much more conducive to shot playing but Naim departed next over after a 19-ball 23 to Ben Sears, nicking an angled delivery to the wicketkeeper.
Then Mushfiqur Rahim, who has been struggling with the bat ever since his return to the side, felt the pressure of the required rate creeping over 10 and was holed out at long off after scoring three. With the top-order failing to add quick runs while also losing wickets in the process of trying to up the ante, Bangladesh slumped to 46 for four after nine overs, making their struggles at the top apparent yet again.
After the Powerplay, no boundary came until the 12th over due to loss of wickets but Afif and skipper Mahmudullah Riyad fought back with a considerably meaningful partnership. The partnership added 63 runs off 43 deliveries before Riyad departed to Kuggeleijn. Afif for his part had powered to 49 off 33, laced with two fours and three sixes, but Kiwi bowlers kept picking up wickets from the other end to stem the flow of runs as Bangladesh reached 134 for eight.
Earlier, Finn Allen set the tone for a big total after New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat. Allen plundered Shoriful Islam for 19 runs in the fourth over to get the Kiwis off to a flyer. Shoriful got his revenge in the last over of the Powerplay, first bagging Rachin Ravindra and then Allen.
The right-handed Allen had however swung the momentum sharply in his side's favour with a 24-ball 41 before departing. Tom Latham found the right platform during a run-a-ball 35-run partnership with Henry Nicholls before adding another 43 runs with McConchie off just 21 deliveries. The two big stands saw New Zealand capitalise on their initial momentum and the captain remained unbeaten on a 37-ball 50 to take Kiwis to the highest score of 161 for five in the series.