New Zealand outclass Bangladesh in rain-marred T20I finale

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The opening partnership of Martin Guptill and Finn Allen along with the brilliant bowling display by Todd Astle (4/13) and Tim Southee (3/15) proved crucial.

Persistent rain delayed the start of the match, and the contest was eventually reduced to a 10-overs-per-side.

Bangladesh won the toss and asked New Zealand to bat. The hosts came out with all guns blazing with openers Allen and Guptill.

Guptill's intent was evident from the get-go, as he smashed a 93 meter six off Nasum Ahmed’s bowling in the first over of the match. Allen got into the act soon, hitting Nasum for three fours and a six his next over.

The explosive duo demolished Bangladesh’s bowlers, stitching together 85 runs before the end of the sixth over. Guptill’s carnage came to an end courtesy of Mahedi Hasan after the ball hit his toe end and found the fielder at deep extra cover, as the New Zealand opener fell for a 19-ball 44.

Guptill’s dismissal didn’t slow down New Zealand, as Allen reached his maiden T20I fifty in just 18 balls – the second-fastest ever for the Black Caps. Glenn Phillips had a short cameo at the crease, hitting two sixes before departing to Shoriful Islam for 14.

Allen’s 29-ball 71 was undone by Taskin Ahmed after a failed scoop attempt found substitute fielder Mehidy Hasan. New Zealand finished the innings with a gargantuan total of 141/4.

In the chase, Bangladesh got off to a shaky start as Tim Southee struck twice in two balls for New Zealand. Dismissing Soumya Sarkar by caught and bowled, and then sending Liton Das back to the pavilion for a first-ball duck.

Todd Astle got in on the action to pick up the wicket of Mohammad Naim, and in the same over, Najmul Shanto became his second victim after he was deceived by a wrong’un.

From there the wickets kept falling, Astle put the game out of Bangladesh’s reach after he added two more wickets to his tally in his next over. Bangladesh were in trouble at 52/6, a lower-order collapse saw them lose 4 wickets for 20 runs resulting in them being all out in 9.3 overs.

New Zealand completed a whitewash as they cruised to a comfortable 65-run victory in the final T20I.