New Zealand may have saved their honor by winning the last match, but Bangladesh won the five-match T20 series 3-2. At the same time, before the World T20, Bangla Tigers also challenged other teams.
Captain Tom Latham scored an unbeaten 50 off 37 balls for New Zealand, who had already lost the series, as Bangladesh suffered a 27-run defeat. Batting first, Kiwi team scored 161/5. Chasing the target, Bangladesh could only manage 134-8 runs. Afif Hossain scored the highest 49* runs.
In this match, Bangladesh had rested four players including all-rounder Shakib-al-Hasan, pacer Mustafizur Rahman, whose Kiwis picked up a lot and started strongly. Finn Allen smashed 41 runs in just 24 balls. The team’s score was 50 runs in six overs.
When the wickets of Rachin Ravindra and Finn fell in the same over of Shoreful, Bangladesh appeared to be making a comeback. But in the last five overs, 54 runs were added due to Henry Nicholls and Cole McConey. Then New Zealand also demolished the Bangladeshi top order.
Left-arm spinner Ejaz Patel took two wickets for 21 runs. Pacer Scott Kuglan spent just 23 runs to take two wickets. It is known that Bangladesh has to play the first qualifier in the World T20, with teams like Papua New Guinea, Scotland and Oman with them in the group. The captaincy of the team has been handed over to Mahmudullah.