NZ beats Bangladesh by 6-wkt in rain-hit finale to draw series 1-1

Visiting New Zealand secured a commanding six-wicket victory over host Bangladesh in a rain-curtailed third and final T20 match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday, drawing the three-match series 1-1.

Chasing a modest target of 103 runs in a match reduced to 15 overs, the Black Caps reached the finish line with 20 deliveries to spare. The series ends in a stalemate, as Bangladesh had won the series opener before the second match was abandoned due to rain.

Asked to bat first after losing the toss, Bangladesh struggled to build momentum and lost wickets at regular intervals. Opener Saif Hassan showed early promise, guiding the team to 17 without loss in the first two overs. However, his brief cameo ended at 16 off 10 balls when he stepped out and mistimed a delivery on the first ball of the fourth over.

The hosts' batting lineup quickly unraveled from there. Fellow opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim and number four batter Parvez Hossain Emon departed cheaply, leaving Bangladesh reeling at 35 for 3. Captain Litton Das attempted to accelerate the scoring but was dismissed for a 17-ball 23, triggering a procession of batsmen returning to the pavilion. 

Towhid Hridoy was the lone warrior for Bangladesh, top-scoring with 33 off 24 balls, punctuated by three boundaries and two sixes. The rest of the batting order collapsed, with eight players failing to reach double figures. Despite the innings being reduced by five overs due to rain, the home side failed to survive their allotted quota.

In reply, New Zealand faced a dramatic early scare thanks to a fiery spell from Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam. Shoriful ripped through the top order, claiming three quick wickets for just 19 runs in his three overs. When spinner Mahedi Hasan removed Nick Kelly, New Zealand found themselves in a precarious position at 33 for 4. 

However, Dean Foxcroft and Devon Conway quickly extinguished any hopes of a Bangladeshi comeback. The duo stitched together an unbeaten 70-run partnership off just 40 balls to comfortably steer New Zealand home. 

Conway led the charge with a match-winning, unbeaten 61 off 31 deliveries, smashing five boundaries and three towering sixes to seal the game.