New Zealand struck early in the chase as Bangladesh began their innings in the third T20I at Dhaka. After a bright opening burst, the Black Caps pressed for breakthroughs, and the score moved to 21 before a wicket finally fell.
Litton Das walked out to bat as the next batter, with Bangladesh on 21/1 in the 3.1 over. Jayden Lennox delivered the ball to Saif Hassan, and the batter was dismissed—caught to complete New Zealand’s first breakthrough of the innings.
Earlier, Bangladesh were cruising at 21/0. In the 2.6 over, Ben Sears bowled to Tanzid Hasan, pitching short just outside off. Tanzid Hasan cut at it, but the point fielder held his ground and made a strong stop.
At 21/0 in the 2.5 over, Sears again targeted Tanzid Hasan with a ball on a length outside off. Tanzid Hasan dabbed it toward point, but couldn’t find the boundary.
Still 21/0, the 2.4 over brought another delivery from Ben Sears to Tanzid Hasan. The ball was slightly shorter and on off, and Tanzid Hasan nudged it to the off side.
Bangladesh remained unbeaten on 21/0 at 2.3 overs. Sears tossed up a hard-length ball just outside off, and Tanzid Hasan went for a pull. He mistimed the shot, sending the ball high—but it dropped safely behind the square-leg inner ring as the fielder from the deep failed to make the catch.
Saif Hassan was briefly down on the ground and the physio checked on him after the earlier delivery. After treatment, Saif walked back on his feet, and play continued without any further interruption.
In the 2.2 over, Ben Sears bowled to Tanzid Hasan on a length around off. Tanzid Hasan pushed it toward the left of mid-wicket with soft hands. The fielder moved to his left and threw toward the striker’s end, but the ball struck the left heel of Saif Hassan just as he was inside the crease.
New Zealand then made their first bowling change, bringing Ben Sears into the attack.
At 17/0 in the 2.1 over, Ben Sears bowled to Tanzid Hasan again. The ball was back of a length and angled across the left-hander, with Tanzid Hasan trying to jab it away but missing the line.
At 17/0 during 1.6 overs, Nathan Smith delivered to Saif Hassan on a length around off. Saif Hassan defended calmly to cover.
At 17/0 in the 1.5 over, Nathan Smith was punished. The delivery was overpitched on middle and leg, angling in, and Saif Hassan rolled his wrists to flick it squarely toward the left of the square-leg fielder for four runs.
Bangladesh moved to 13/0 at 1.4 overs. Nathan Smith bowled on a length around off, and Saif Hassan guided it into the cover region with a controlled dab.
At 13/0 in the 1.3 over, Smith bowled fuller and around the pads. Saif Hassan flicked it to the left of deep square leg, running for a couple.
In the 1.2 over, still 11/0, Nathan Smith sent down a fullish ball outside off. Saif Hassan guided it past the point fielder for two runs.
New Zealand started with a boundary in the 1.1 over. Nathan Smith bowled from a hard length on the sixth stump line, and Saif Hassan came down the track to punch it over cover with a cross-bat strike for four—Bangladesh’s first boundary of the innings.
Who would bowl from the other end? Nathan Smith took the new-ball role after the initial over.
At 5/0 in the 0.6 over, Dean Foxcroft delivered a full ball on the stumps. Saif Hassan pushed it wide of mid-on for a single, giving New Zealand a tidy start with five runs from the first over.
At 4/0 in the 0.5 over, Foxcroft bowled Tanzid Hasan around off, dragging his length back. Tanzid Hasan rocked onto the back foot and nudged the ball to the leg side for one.
In the 0.4 over, at 3/0, Dean Foxcroft bowled a touch fuller on off to Tanzid Hasan. Tanzid Hasan pushed it back to the bowler.
At 3/0 in the 0.3 over, Saif Hassan faced Dean Foxcroft again. The ball was tossed up with flight just outside off, and Saif Hassan lunged to hit through cover. He edged it on the outside, and a fielder in the short third region tracked back well to turn it into a quick stop just before it reached the boundary ropes. Three runs came from the play.
Bangladesh had not yet opened their account in the 0.2 over. Saif Hassan eased a fuller delivery just outside off down to cover.
At 0/0 in the 0.1 over, Dean Foxcroft started short, outside off. Saif Hassan pushed it into cover as the innings got underway.
With the match set to begin, both sets of players moved into position. Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan were named as Bangladesh’s opening pair, while spin was set to start as Dean Foxcroft prepared the run-up with the new ball. Saif Hassan faced the first delivery—away we go.
Bangladesh’s spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed said he had no certainty over how the surface would behave, adding that the team would need to assess the pitch as the game unfolded. He stressed the importance of reading conditions quicker than the opposition, aiming to pick up wickets through dot balls while also monitoring the wicket’s pace as the match progressed.
Playing XIs
Bangladesh (Playing XI): Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Litton Das (w/c), Towhid Hridoy, Parvez Hossain Emon, Shamim Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Rishad Hossain, Ripon Mondol, Shoriful Islam.
New Zealand (Playing XI): Katene Clarke, Tim Robinson, Dane Cleaver (w), Nick Kelly (c), Bevon Jacobs, Dean Foxcroft, Josh Clarkson, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi, Jayden Lennox, Ben Sears.
Pitch report
There is expected to be the same kind of surface seen during the first ODI, where the bounce proved inconsistent—an issue that can trouble batters looking to play freely in T20 cricket. The pitch is thought to behave differently this time, and the ground dimensions include a 79-metre boundary down the ground and square boundaries at 69 and 58 metres. The outfield is damp due to rain, which could affect timing even if the ball travels quickly through the air. Overall, the surface is expected to be more compact than what teams have been used to seeing in Mirpur.
Captains’ reactions
Litton Das: Litton Das said the team also considered bowling first, believing that was the better option given the conditions. He noted that in recent series Bangladesh had struggled in the middle overs, but added that the batters have performed well lately. He confirmed there is one change to the XI, with Sakib sidelined due to a slight niggle, and Mohammad Saifuddin coming in.
Nick Kelly (NZ captain): Nick Kelly revealed New Zealand planned to bowl first. He explained that while they initially thought about batting, the presence of rain means it is better to know what they are chasing. Kelly said they were on top for roughly 60% of the match previously but couldn’t finish. He added that they want to improve their ability to close games and confirmed two changes have been made to the lineup.
TOSS
New Zealand won the toss and chose to field first against Bangladesh.
Hello and welcome! This is the live coverage of the third T20I between Bangladesh and New Zealand in Dhaka.
