Tigers tamed in dead rubber

Bangladesh lost the final Twenty20 international of their five-match series against New Zealand by 27 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday despite a valiant effort from youngster Afif Hossain.

Bangladesh had already won the series after winning the fourth T20I with an unassailable 3-1 lead. But they were aiming at another 4-1 series win against a trans-Tasman opposition that did not happen as the Kiwis reduced the margin to 3-2.

But with key players rested, Bangladesh saw the Blackcaps put 161-5 on the scoreboard, the highest total of the series.

And chasing 162, only Afif showed some aggressive intent with his unbeaten knock of 49 off 33 deliveries, but he was left stranded at one end as none of the other batsmen could support him, and the Tigers fell 27 runs short to end their innings on 134-8.

Batting first, New Zealand were off to a flyer as Finn Allen, and Rachin Ravindra put together a 58-run opening stand off just 34 deliveries. But youngster Shoriful Islam sent them both back in the final over of the powerplay to bring Bangladesh back.

But New Zealand skipper Tom Latham (50*) struck his second fifty of the series and with valuable contributions from Henry Nicholls (20) and Cole McConchie (17*) in the back end of the innings, Blackcaps managed to set Bangladesh a target of 162.

Shoriful was Bangladesh’s most successful bowler with a couple of wickets, with Taskin Ahmed, Nasum Ahmed and Afif picking up one each.

Tigers were off to another bad start as Liton Das (10) was sent back courtesy of a brilliant one-handed catch from Scott Kuggeleijn off Ajaz Patel’s bowling.

Naim Sheikh (23), Soumya Sarkar (4) and Mushfiqur Rahim (3)- were back within the ninth over, with only Naim reaching double figures.

But a 63-run stand off just 43 balls between skipper Mahmudullah Riyad (23) and Afif showed Bangladesh some hope, but once Kuggeleijn got rid of the Bangladesh skipper in the 16th over, the tiny glimmer of hope also vanished.

The remaining four overs saw only 25 runs scored as Bangladesh lost three more wickets to end on 134-8.

Afif stayed unbeaten on 49, hitting two boundaries and three sixes.

Patel and Kuggeleijn were New Zealand’s most successful bowlers with a couple of wickets each, whereas Jacob Duffy, Ben Sears, McConchie and Ravindra picked up a wicket each.