Blackcaps want to level series

New Zealand head coach Glenn Pocknall is eyeing at levelling the series against Bangladesh with a win in the fourth twenty20 international of the five-match series.

The Blackcaps beat Bangladesh by 52 runs in the third match of the series to claim their first win of the tour and reduced the deficit to 2-1 after the Tigers had won the first two matches.

Pocknall now is aiming at levelling the series with a win in the fourth match and said that the players are ready for it.

“We’ve got a lot to play for which is great. We’re in with a sniff, so we’ve got a lot to play for tomorrow and make it 2-2, and we’ll see what happens in the final game. The guys are up for it, which is great,” he added.

New Zealand’s win in the third T20I was also Pocknall’s first win as the New Zealand head coach, and he said that it was a special feeling.

“It’s amazing. It was a pretty special feeling just because the guys have been working so hard and having such good conversations around the way we want to play the game,” he added.

New Zealand lost both of their last white-ball series in Bangladesh, and a defeat in the fourth T20I will make it three out of three. Pocknall said that they know of Bangladesh’s record at home and will face fire with fire.

“They’ve had a fantastic record not just against us but also against every other team in the world [at home]. So, for them to lose, they’ll come back pretty strong, and they’ll be hurting from that. We’re certainly prepared for a backlash from them, but we’re going to fight fire with fire,” he said.