Kiwi
New Zealand sweep series 3-0
New Zealand completed a 3-0 sweep of the three-match series against Bangladesh Friday after winning the third ODI by 164 runs.
Maiden centuries of Devon Conway and all-rounder Daryl Mitchell lifted New Zealand to the victory.
The Kiwis won the toss and chose to bat first. They made 318 runs as Conway scored 126, and shared a 159-run partnership with all-rounder Mitchell.
Also read: Ross Taylor to play the final ODI vs Bangladesh
The all-rounder, whose previous highest ODI score was 12 runs, took 17 runs from the 50th over to complete his 100 in 92 balls.
In reply, Bangladesh were bundled out for 154 despite an unbeaten 73-ball 76 of Mahmudullah Riyad.
Matt Henry ripped through the Bangladesh top order, taking 3-13 from his first four overs.
Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal departed early while chasing a huge target, forcing the visitors to go for a defensive game plan. But it proved to be a bad idea for them as Soumya Sarkar and Liton Das also fell to Henry in quick succession.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Mohammad Mithun played 69 balls together, Bangladesh's biggest partnership in terms of facing most balls, but failed to put any pressure on the hosts' bowling lineup.
The Tigers lost seven wickets before posting 100 runs on the board. But Mahmudullah put his best foot forward to offer some resistance which lasted till the removal of Mustafizur Rahman as the last wicket from a fine delivery off James Neesham.
Also read: Sloppy fielding costs Bangladesh series to New Zealand
Neesham registered returned his career-best ODI figure of 5-27 for New Zealand.
Henry took four wickets conceding 27 runs in 10 overs and the remaining wicket went to Kyle Jamieson.
Earlier, the visitors failed to find a good rhythm in bowling as Mustafizur struggled throughout the innings to get some movement or swing. The other bowlers also remained clueless in one of the biggest cricket grounds of New Zealand.
Mustafizur gave away 87 runs in 10 overs – taking only one wicket – his second-worst bowling in ODIs.
Bangladesh got the first breakthrough when Taskin Ahmed removed Henry Nicholls for 18. Next, Rubel Hossain dismissed Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor in quick succession.
But New Zealand captain Tom Latham and Conway added 63 runs in the fourth wicket stand and repaired the early damage. Soumya Sarkar broke the partnership by removing Latham.
The visitors were in control of the game as the hosts lost four wickets for 120 runs. But Conway and Mitchell added 159 runs in the fifth wicket stand, enabling New Zealand to pass the 300-run mark.
In the last 10 overs, New Zealand added 107 runs, and Mustafizur conceded 43 of those runs. He gave away 21 runs in the last overs.
Eventually, Bangladesh failed to chase down a huge target of 319 and lost the game by 164 runs, which is their first defeat by a margin of 150 runs or more after 2017.
Bangladesh's last defeat by a margin of 150 runs or more before this game came against South Africa in 2017.
With a clean sweep over the Tigers, the hosts grabbed a full 30 points in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League series. Earlier, they had registered two convincing victories in the first two games in Dunedin and Christchurch.
The Tigers will now face the hosts in a three-match T20 series – slated to start on March 28 in Hamilton.
The last two games of the series will be played on March 30 and April 1 in Napier and Auckland.
Also read: Bangladesh vs New Zealand T20 Series 2021: Who can replace Tamim in the opening slot?
3 years ago