3rd ODI, Mirpur, September 26, 2023, 01:30 PM
Bangladesh
171/10(34.3ov)
New Zealand
175/3(34.5ov)
New Zealand beat Bangladesh by 7 wickets
Right then, that's all from this game. Lockie Ferguson collects the trophy and joins his teammates for the celebrations. The New Zealand players are all smiles as they pose for pictures in front of the Winners board. The ODI World Cup beckons now for both of these teams as they travel to India from here. We hope you enjoyed our coverage. It is goodbye for now!
New Zealand's skipper Lockie Ferguson says that he is chuffed with how the series went. Adds that there were ups and downs but he is happy with how the series went. Shares that Bangladesh put them under pressure with how they batted but they were fortunate enough to pick up wickets. Shares that it has been a pleasing series as a group. Ends by saying that they are building as a team and hope to take learning from this series to the World Cup.
Henry Nicholls is the Player of the Series. He says that it was pleasing to play in these conditions and credits the batters for adapting to these pitches. He appreciates the bowlers for bowling amazingly and restricting the opposition to a low score. Appreciates Will Young as well for batting well. He mentions that it is tough playing against Bangladesh at their home.
Will Young is the Player of the Match for his crucial knock of 70 runs from 80 balls. He says that the ODI World Cup is at the back of the mind but they want to take one step at a time. Mentions that this group plays together during different times of the year and they gel well and have a lot of fun. Feels that the conditions might be similar to those in India and has taken confidence from this series.
The captain of Bangladesh, Najmul Hossain Shanto says that his batters couldn't go for a big score and did not build a partnership. He adds that he was not worried about the batting and that he wanted to bat till the end. He mentioned that the players will have to step up and be confident ahead of the World Cup.
Time for the presentation ceremony...
Earlier in the game, after Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and opted to put runs on the board, they were rocked early by Adam Milne and Trent Boult. The hosts lost both openers inside the first two overs, and soon Towhid Hridoy perished in trying to be proactive. Mushfiqur Rahim and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto then got together and forged a decent recovery for Bangladesh with a 53-run stand. After Mushfiqur's departure, Shanto began to take the innings forward with Mahmudullah, but the latter could not convert his start into something substantial. Despite wickets falling at the other end, Shanto held firm at one end but, in the end, was dismissed on 76. The tail wasn't able to wag much, which meant that Bangladesh were rolled over for 171, losing their last four wickets for just 3 runs. In what was his first game of the tour, Adam Milne was the chief wrecker for New Zealand, with figures of 4 for 34.
With not a big total to defend, Bangladesh needed early inroads to stand any chance in the game. Shoriful Islam was not able to set the tone in his first over, but he and Hasan Mahmud corrected their lines and lengths quickly. Just when New Zealand's opening stand was starting to flourish, Shoriful Islam roared his side back into the game with two wickets in as many deliveries. At that stage, Bangladesh had their tails up with the crowd egging them on, and it looked like they would make life difficult for New Zealand. However, they were unable to string dots for longer periods, which allowed Young and Nicholls to release the pressure as the game slipped away from them. On what was a dry surface, the spinners did get the odd ball to turn but could not trouble the batters in a fashion they would have liked. 172 was never going to be enough, but Bangladesh must be credited for the fight.
In pursuit of a modest total, Finn Allen got off the blocks quickly with three back-to-back boundaries against Shoriful Islam in the very first over. As the Bangladesh pacers fought back with tight lines and lengths, the two openers showed good respect by leaving balls outside off. At the same time, they were equally good in pouncing on the loose deliveries to keep the scoreboard ticking. With the wickets of Finn Allen and debutant Dean Foxcroft off successive deliveries, New Zealand stuttered a bit and found themselves under presssure. Will Young took matters into his own hands and started to run away with the game with the support from Henry Nicholls. With an 81-run stand, the pair put New Zealand back in the driver's seat. Young departed on 70 but Henry Nicholls remained unbeaten on 50 and saw New Zealand home with Tom Blundell who provided the finishing touches.
New Zealand seal the series with a comprehensive victory! After the first ODI was abandoned due to rain, the Black Caps have put in back-to-back clinial performances and have clinched the series with a 2-0 scoreline. This is the first bilateral series win for New Zealand in Bangladesh since 2008.
In over# 35
4
0
0
1
4
Mahmudullah 25/0(3.5)
34.5
4
FOUR! And that is the winning runs for New Zealand! Mahmudullah tosses this up and turning from outside off. Tom Blundell charges down the ground but miscues it. The keeper had a chance to collect the ball and dismiss the batter but failed to do so as the ball ran away to the fence for four runs to finish the match. A comprehensive win for the Kiwis.
34.4
.
A bit short and over off. Tom Blundell punches it to the bowler.
34.3
.
Full and angling on the pads. Tom Blundell misses the shot as the ball hits his pads.
34.2
1
FIFTY FOR Henry Nicholls! Mahmudullah tossed this ne up and on leg. Henry Nicholls drives it wide of mid on for a single and that it a fifty for Henry Nicholls. A superb knock from him.
34.1
4
FOUR! Mahmudullah bowls it a bit short and on the off pole. Henry Nicholls pulls it away wide of long on. The ball runs away to the fence for four runs. So close to the win now.
In over# 34
4
0
1
1
4
1
Nasum Ahmed 50/1(10)
33.6
4
FOUR! Nasum Ahmed bowls it a bit short and outside off. Tom Blundell rocks back and slaps it away in the gap at mid-wicket. The ball has enough strength on it to run away to the fence for another boundary of the over.
33.5
.
Floated up on middle. Tom Blundell blocks it out safely.
33.4
1
Tossed up on the off pole. Henry Nicholls drives it to mid off for another quick single.