Bangladesh New Zealand T20 I Series
4th Match Played on 8 September 2021 at SBNCS Dhaka
Bangladesh 96/4 in 19.1 Overs (Mahmudullah Riad 43*, Mohammad Naim 29, Ajaj Patel 2/9)
New Zealand 93 All Out in 19.3 Overs (Will Young 46, Tom Latham 21, Nasum Ahmed 4/10, Mustafizur Rahman 4/12)
Bangladesh won by 6 wickets
Bangladesh Wrapped Up The series 3-1 after the fourth of the 5 Matches.
Player of The Match: Nasum Ahmed
Cool calculative Mahmuddullah piloting his ship in troubled sea successfully anchored it to the shore as Bangladesh won the all important closely contested 4th match with 5 balls to spare. It was again on a low ,slow , gripping wicket where ball turned square from the very outset. New Zealand winning the toss and electing to bat could reach well below par 93 all out in 19.3 overs. Bangladesh also huffed and puffed in getting past the target scoring 96/4 in 19.1 overs .This important win earned Bangladesh wrapping up another historic series win (3-1) . The 5th match will only be academic interest where Bangladesh can test their bench strength with an eye to the ensuing world cup. Bangladesh never won a T20 match against New Zealand before not to speak of a series win. After winning the past series 4-1 against Australia this win took Bangladesh cricket to new heights making Bangladesh impregnable at home . Does not matter whether the opposing teams did not have mainstream players , does not matter wicket is not conducive to playing T20 cricket .Bangladesh won against Australia and New Zealand that would be written in records.
Bangladesh desperately required winning this match after New Zealand returned them compliments beating them heaving in the 3rd match by 52 runs, crashing them to 76 all out. But nevertheless it was won with lots of pain. By no means it was a cakewalk. At a time when some controversies about the team chemistry are rumoring in the air this win would settle few nerves.
Agreed that the wicket was not ideal but was not unplayable. True stroke playing was extremely challenging. Yet batsman could stay and graft if he applied. Young scoring 46 and Mahmuddulah scoring 43* evidenced that. Other batsmen of either side fell for their own follies or two great bowling by the bowlers on juicy wicket.
New Zealand winning the toss and elected to bat. Nasum (4/10) looked lethal and Mustafiz (4/12) was in his elements. Nasum ran through the top order and Mustafiz wrapped up the middle order and the tail. If not Young grafted scoring 46 in 48 deliveries and Latham assisting a bit scoring 21 in 26 balls New Zealand innings could be in total disarray. However 93 was at least 30 runs too less.
Yet the balck caps did not throw the towel. Bowling smartly and fielding sharp they made Bangladesh toil for every run. Liton, Shakib and Mushfique did not do justice to their reputation. Bangladesh losing 3 wickets for 32 was in a bit of bother. However skipper Mahmudullah (the best Bangladesh batsman in current form) shouldered the team. Young Naim gave him company. Pressure kept building as Ajaj Patel (2/9) and Rachin (0/8) in 8 overs among them gave way only 17. Their was no pressure of run rate, no reason for panicking. Mahmudullah steered the team out of tight corner producing unbeaten 43. Bangladesh won by 6 wickets with 5 balls to spare . Winning the match Bangladesh wrapped up the series. New Zealand must be patted in the back for their never say die attitude.
With the series won Bangladesh must test their fringe players in the 5th match.
Bangladesh seal first T20I series against New Zealand
BDST: 0839 HRS, SEP 09, 2021
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