The hosts dominated with the ball once again to seal a thriller in the second T20I against New Zealand at Dhaka on Friday.
Tom Latham’s 65 proved just not enough to save Bangladesh from getting another victory in the second T20 against New Zealand at Sher e Bangla National Stadium on Friday. The hosts sealed a close victory by 4 runs to extend the five-match series by 2-0.
Bangladesh while batting first scored 141 runs in the allotted overs with Mohammad Naim scoring 39 and the skipper, Mahmudullah scored an unbeaten 37.
New Zealand chase came alive in the final over when Latham took the match to the wire when the visitors needed 6 off 1 after it came down to 20 off 6 balls from Mustafizur Rahman.
Mustafizur gave seven extra runs in the 15 runs that he conceded and New Zealand ended on 137/5, losing the match by 4 runs.
Bangladesh spinners did the job once again on a track that was quite slow as Shakib Al Hasan and Mahedi Hasan finished on two for 12 and two for 29 respectively.
Shakib broke a crucial 43 runs second-wicket stand between Latham and Will Young to get within one wicket of joining Sri Lanka’s former pacer, Lasith Malinga as the leading wicket-taker in Twenty20 internationals.
The Bengal all-rounder has now 106 total wickets in the shortest format of the game.
Latham who got a second life in stumping while he was on 54, put solid pressure on Bangladesh bowling.
New Zealand lost their first game by 7 wickets, lost the second one in a close contest when the equation summed up to six off final delivery but the skipper managed a single only.
“It was a great game to take it down to the last over,”
said the New Zealand captain.
“I thought we learned from the last game and to take it down to the last over with a chance of winning was outstanding.”
Bangladesh skipper, Mahmudullah said that he was confident in Mustafizur to handle the final over better than anyone else.
“Mustafizur held his nerve well and we went really close,”
he said.
“It was unusual, but I had quite a bit of confidence in Mustafizur.”
Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first. Bangladesh opener’s, Naim and Liton Das made brilliant 59 runs opening stand before Liton got another life from Colin de Grandhomme off Colin McConchie.
Rachin Ravindra got rid of Liton in the 10th over who had scored 33 off 29 balls and then Mushfiqur Rahim for a duck on the very next ball to end his fixtures on 3-22 in 4 overs.
Meanwhile, Mahmudullah’s 37 off 32 took his side towards a competitive total in the allotted overs.
The third match of the series will be played at the same venue on Sunday.
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