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With the help of Mitchell Santner and James Neesham,
New Zealand was able to recover from 49 for 5 and win a low-scoring third
Twenty20 international match, sharing the series honours 1-1 with Bangladesh.
Santner’s 4 for 16 through the middle overs left
Bangladesh on a sub-par 110, but bowling from Mahedi Hasan and Shoriful Islam
led to a rally. The early wickets had dropped New Zealand below the DLS par
score, but an undefeated 37-ball 46 stand between Neesham and Santner hauled
them ahead.
With just 16 runs needed in 5.2 overs, New Zealand’s
innings was back on track when the rain arrived. After the rain started, they
were declared the winners by 17 runs (DLS method).
Santner decided to chase at the toss, keeping one eye
on the weather, even though no team had previously won in Mount Maunganui. With
Tim Southee, Ben Sears, and Adam Milne all collecting wickets in the powerplay
to leave Bangladesh at 45 for 3, it appeared to have been the right decision.
Bangladesh’s batsmen appeared to be getting starts after that, but the trend
persisted with them falling short shortly after. Although five of the top eight
batters scored in double digits, Shanto’s 17 was the greatest innings score.
Santner’s spell was the main cause of Bangladesh’s
middle-overs collapse. He maintained it neat just outside off, and Mahedi and
Towhid Hridoy found the wicketkeeper’s edge. Bangladesh was already down 81 for
7, and Santner brought the pacers back.
It was supposed to be a routine chase of 111, but four
of New Zealand’s top five batsmen went out for a run apiece. Opener Tim Seifert
was stumped by offspinner Mahedi, and No. 3 Daryl Mitchell was caught at
mid-off, while Shoriful rattled Glenn Phillips’ stumps with a length delivery.
Conditions quickly turned gloomy at 49 for 5, and No.
5 Mark Chapman collided with Finn Allen only to be driven out, leaving New
Zealand behind the DLS.
The Chapman run-out appeared to be the unravelling of
New Zealand, but Bangladesh captain Najmul Hassan Shanto’s part-time offspin in
the tenth over offered a release. Neesham smacked Shanto for six and four off
consecutive balls to ease the pressure, and then knocked it around once New
Zealand were ahead on DLS.