Jacobs’ 62* and Clarkson’s 3-for help New Zealand level series vs Bangladesh

Josh Clarkson starred with a three-wicket spell, while Bevon Jacobs produced an unbeaten 62 off 31 balls to steer New Zealand to a six-wicket victory via the DLS method in the third and final T20 International against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday, May 2. With the series tied at 1-1—Bangladesh winning the opener and the second match abandoned due to rain—the Kiwis claimed the decider in a rain-affected chase.

New Zealand’s bowling strikes set up a chase

1. After winning the toss and choosing to field, New Zealand kept the early overs under control, limiting Bangladesh’s momentum in the opening phase.
2. Debutant Jayden Lennox made an immediate impact by removing Saif Hassan with his very first delivery.
3. Litton Das started confidently, finding boundaries early, but Nathan Smith struck twice in quick succession—first taking out Tanzid Hasan Tamim and then Parvez Hossain Emon off consecutive balls—pulling the innings back.
4. Bangladesh managed 43/3 at the end of the Powerplay, but rain arrived around four balls into the seventh over, leaving the outfield waterlogged.
5. Following a delay of almost two hours, the match was reduced to 15 overs per side.
6. Towhid Hridoy resumed with a boundary and followed it with another six to keep the chase for a larger total alive.
7. Clarkson then struck in his first over after the reduction, dismissing Das, before Hridoy continued to look for ways to accelerate.
8. Shamim Hossain fell to an Ish Sodhi full-toss before Clarkson delivered another blow in the 13th over, taking the wicket of Hridoy.
9. Rishad Hossain was run out while attempting a second run that wasn’t on, and Ben Sears cleaned up the tail as Bangladesh were bowled out for 104.

DLS chase: Jacobs holds the key as New Zealand finish strongly

1. New Zealand’s target, adjusted under DLS for 15 overs, was 103.
2. They lost two wickets in the second over when Shoriful Islam dismissed both threats—Katene Clarke and Dane Cleaver—after each managed only a single run.
3. Tim Robinson responded with a six and a four against Ripon Mondol, but Shoriful continued his strong spell by removing Robinson.
4. Captain Nick Kelly was then bowled by Mahedi Hasan shortly after the 4.3-over Powerplay, leaving the chase precariously placed at 33/4.
5. Jacobs, promoted to bat at number 5, punished Shoriful with a couple of boundaries and kept the strike moving effectively against Rishad Hossain and Mohammad Saifuddin.
6. With the required run-rate settling near run-a-ball for the final stretch, New Zealand still needed discipline and finishing power.
7. Jacobs struck a boundary off Rishad, then smashed a six and ran hard to help drive a 14-run over from Mondol.
8. Mahedi’s drop of Jacobs off his own bowling hinted the game was slipping away, and the batter made the most of it.
9. Jacobs launched a 6, 4, 6 sequence off Rishad to raise his fifty, and sealed the win in style with 20 balls remaining.

Brief scores

Bangladesh 102 in 14.2 overs (Towhid Hridoy 33, Litton Das 26; Josh Clarkson 3-9, Ben Sears 2-12) lost to New Zealand 104/4 in 11.4 overs (Bevon Jacobs 62*, Tim Robinson 23; Shoriful Islam 3-19) by 6 wickets (DLS).