Sports Desk: Bangladesh raised a prospect of confirming the five-match Twenty20 International series today after bowling New Zealand out for 93 in 19.3 overs in the fourth game at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.
Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed and pacer Mustafizur Rahman were key in giving the side a genuine hope of victory even though the pitch remains extremely.
Both of the bowlers claimed four wickets, with Nasum’s four for 10 being his career-best bowling. Mustafizur conceded just 12 in 3.3 overs for his four wickets.
For New Zealand, Will Young battled lonely to score 46 off 48, clobbering five fours and one six.
Bangladesh won the first two matches by seven wickets and four runs before conceding a 52-run to New Zealand in the third game.
While Nasum sliced the top order of New Zealand, Mustafizur showed his magic in the death overs, denying the visitors to go past 100 runs. This was the second time New Zealand were dismissed below 100, with their 60 in the first match remaining their joint lowest ever T20 International score.
After New Zealand opted to bat first, Nasum struck in the first over as Rachin Ravindra top-edged one to Saifuddin for duck. In his next over, he found extra bounce to get Finn Allen (12) who looked to be increasingly dangerous after reverse-swept Shakib Al Hasan for six.
But New Zealand found some hope when skipper Tom Latham and Will Young stabilized the innings, playing with caution that the pitch demanded.
After scoring 21, Latham was baffled by the sharp turn of offspinner Mahedi Hasan bowling and got dismissed. His dismissal ended a crucial 35-run partnership.
However, Nasum then came back to his second spell and demolished New Zealand completely with a double strike in consecutive deliveries, dismissing Henry Nicholls (1) and Colin de Grandhome for duck.
Will Young showed the maturity to carry the innings amid the wickets tumbling around him.
Mustafizur came up with his trademark cutter and slower pace to curb the aggression of the visitors. He firstly got the wicket of Tom Blundell (4) to start his venture and later cleaned up the tail with an intriguing show of death bowling.
His four wickets also included the prized scalp of Young who battled hard to score 46 and became the last batsman out.
Mohammad Saifuddin and Mahedi Hasan got the rest of the two wickets evenly.
Source: BSS
