Bangladesh-New Zealand Series
Bangladesh down the Kiwis in thrilling second T20I
|| CF DESK ||
Bangladesh have registered their second win of five-match T20 series against New Zealand defeating the visitors by four runs at the Sher-e Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur on Friday.
Despite skipper Tom Latham's maiden T20I half-century, the Kiwis face another defeat after scoring 137 runs and losing five wickets in 20 overs.
In chase of the target, New Zealand got off to a poor start, with Shakib Al Hasan bowled opener Rachin Ravindra for 10 runs in the third over. In the following over, wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan Sohan stumped another opener, Tom Blundell. The batsman was outside the crease, and Nurul purposefully waited for Blundell to turn around before removing the bails.
New Zealand captain Tom Latham and Will Young made a crucial effort to rescue the Kiwis as the duo added 43 runs for the third wicket before Young fell to Shakib for 22.
The visitors lost two more wickets to reach the century mark. McConchie was given out lbw in the 16th over of the game, but the Kiwis appealed for a review and the batsman was awarded not-out.
Latham survived a run-out during the 18th over as the wicketkeeper broke the stumps before collecting the ball. He remained unbeaten on 65 runs off 49 balls.
Shakib and Mahedi Hasan took a couple of wickets while Nasum Ahmed scalped a wicket for Bangladesh.
Earlier, after winning the toss Bangladesh posted 141 runs for six wickets after 20 overs, the openers Mohammad Naim and Liton Das made a dashing start for the side putting 59-run partnership.
Kiwi spinner Rachin Ravindra made the breakthrough by grabbing back-to-back wicket of Liton in a unique inside edge who was looking to play a shot to the leg side and then wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur was also returned for a golden duck after being stumped by Latham.
Liton was dropped on 0 at square leg by de Grandhomme when he tried to pull over the fielder in the circle. However, getting the second chance the right-handed batsman made 33 runs off 29 deliveries including three four and a six.
Last match hero Shakib (12) also departed early by McConchie caught by Sears at the long-off, having 72/3 on the board.
Then Mahmudullah came to the crease and added 34 runs with Naim for the fourth wicket partnership. Left-handed Naim was caught by Tom Blundell on the long-on, which awarded another wicket for Ravindra. He left the field after scoring 39 off 39 balls with three boundaries.
Mahmudullah’s unbeaten 37 off 32 runs bolstered their innings after the untimely wicket of Afif Hossain (3), then Nurul Hasan Sohan and the captain added 32 runs before the end of the innings.
