The series has already been lost. Actually the third and final ODI against New Zealand is just a formality. But this match was important for Bangladesh in many ways. Not only to avoid the shame of whitewash, but also to make history!
Bangladesh have never seen a limited overs (ODI or T20I) win before, despite winning the Test at New Zealand soil. Finally, that victory was captured in the ODI format. Nazmul Hossain Shanter’s team won by wrapping up the Kiwis for just 98 runs with 9 wickets and 209 balls in hand. The visitors ended the three-match series with a 2-1 loss.
Chasing short runs, Soumya Sarkar and Enamul Haque Vijay started confidently. However, after they scored 15 runs, Soumya had to return due to something in her eye. Soumya got up by scoring 4 runs.
After that, Bijay and Nazmul Hossain Shanto started batting in reverse. They scored 69 runs in a pair of 50 balls and confirmed the victory. Vijay came up with a catch to the wicketkeeper to stay 15 runs away from victory. He hit 7 boundaries in an innings of 37 runs off 33 balls.
Captain Nazmul Islam also completed fifty in addition to taking the winning run. He remained unbeaten on 51 runs with the help of 8 fours off 42 balls. Liton Das was unbeaten by 1 run.
The bowlers did half the work of winning. Tanjim Shakib, Shariful Islam, Soumya Sarkar bowled New Zealand for 98 runs in 31.4 overs. This is their lowest team collection record against Bangladesh.
Bangladesh captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and invited New Zealand to bat in the third and final ODI of the series at Napier.
Bangladesh started attacking from both ends with Shariful Islam and Tanjim Hasan Shakib. Tanjim Shakib’s bowling was not so good in the previous match despite regaining his place in the team. But today (Saturday) in the third and last ODI against New Zealand, the young pacer made a great start.
Rakhine was caught by wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim for 8 off 12 balls after Shakib’s mid-pitched ball touched the bat. The hosts lost the first wicket for 16 runs.
Then in the eighth over, Henry Nicholls (12 balls 1) gave an easy catch to Shanta who was standing at mid-on in mistime while pulling Shakib’s bounce. New Zealand lost 2 wickets for 22 runs. Tanjim Shakib took two wickets for just 9 runs in 5 overs with 1 maiden in his first spell.
Tom Latham and Will Young tried to end the danger in the third wicket. However, Shariful Islam broke their partnership of 36 runs off 55 balls in the 17th over. The set Kiwi captain Tom Latham could not save the stumps even while defending. He returned with 21 off 34 balls after being bowled.
Shariful picked up two more wickets in his next two overs. In the 19th over, the left-handed pacer returned another set batter to Young. Young was caught by Mehdi Hasan Miraj in the foul. 26 runs came from his bat off 43 balls.
Mark Chapman was the victim of Shariful in the 21st over. The Kiwi batsman returned to Sajghar after scoring 2 runs. In the 23rd over, Tanjim brought Shakib back into the attack. Wicket from the first ball. Tom Blundell (4 off 17) was caught at backward point by Mirage. New Zealand lost 6 wickets for 70 runs.
Only George Clarkson was among the recognized batters. But he could not keep the wicket. This batsman was bowled by part-timer Soumya Sarkar, he scored 16 runs off 23 balls.
After picking up Clarkson, Soumya cut the tail of the Kiwis. This all-rounder took all three of the last wickets. Mostafizur took the last wicket.
Shariful took 3 wickets with 22 runs in 7 overs. 3 wickets for 14 runs in equal overs by Tanjim Hasan Shakib. Soumya Sarkar took 3 for 18 runs in 6 overs.
