New Zealand’s chase against Bangladesh was kept on a knife-edge before a late surge helped them move back towards a stronger position. With 32.1 overs gone, Dean Foxcroft finished a rain of boundaries and New Zealand were on 155 for 4, chasing the moment as the innings swung between pressure and relief.
Progress of the chase: from 120/2 to 155/4
- 24.6 overs: New Zealand reached 120 for 2 as Henry Nicholls missed outside off.
- 25.1 overs: Tom Latham nudged a single to long on, taking the score to 121 for 2.
- 25.2 overs: Henry Nicholls missed the flick and was struck on the front pad, with New Zealand still 121 for 2.
- 25.3 overs: Nicholls tucked to mid-wicket for a single, moving to 121 for 2.
- 25.4 overs: Nicholls again went for the flick but failed to connect; score remained 121 for 2.
- 25.5 overs: Nicholls pushed to sweeper cover for a single, bringing the total to 122 for 2.
- 25.6 overs: Latham punched to mid-off, keeping New Zealand on 122 for 2.
- 26.1 overs: Henry Nicholls cut to sweeper cover for a single, New Zealand 123 for 2.
- 26.2 overs: Tom Latham pulled through mid-wicket for four, taking New Zealand to 127 for 2.
- 26.3 overs: Tom Latham was bowled by Mehidy Hasan Miraz after the ball kept low; he departed with 14 off 15, and the score became 127 for 3.
- 26.4 overs: Muhammad Abbas tucked to mid-wicket, New Zealand 127 for 3.
- 26.5 overs: Abbas flicked to the left of short mid-wicket, dot ball, still 127 for 3.
- 26.6 overs: Abbas flicked past square leg for a couple, pushing the total to 127 for 3.
- 27.1 overs: Nicholls tucked to backward square leg for no run, still 129 for 3.
- 27.2 overs: Nicholls punched off his back foot for a single, New Zealand 130 for 3.
- 27.3 overs: Muhammad Abbas drove to sweeper cover for a single, New Zealand 131 for 3.
- 27.4 overs: Nicholls defended after getting right on top of the bounce, keeping 131 for 3.
- 27.5 overs: Henry Nicholls was caught behind after going for a reverse sweep; he scored 68 before departing, and New Zealand slipped to 131 for 4.
- 27.6 overs: Dean Foxcroft blocked out the danger, score remained 131 for 4, with drinks taken as the chase tightened.
- 28.1 overs: Abbas dabbed to third man for a single, New Zealand 132 for 4.
- 28.2 overs: Dean Foxcroft took a leg-bye after being beaten by low bounce; umpire turned down LBW and DRS confirmed the ball would have missed leg stump, New Zealand moved to 133 for 4.
- 28.3 overs: Abbas was beaten again attempting a drive, score stayed 133 for 4.
- 28.4 overs: Abbas was genuinely beaten on the outside edge; still 133 for 4.
- 28.5 overs: Nahid Rana bowled a wide, pushing the total to 134 for 4.
- 28.5 overs (next): Abbas was beaten once more, still 134 for 4.
- 28.6 overs: Abbas drove to the right of sweeper cover for a couple, New Zealand 136 for 4.
- 29.1 overs: Foxcroft drove to long off for two, reaching 138 for 4.
- 29.2 overs: Foxcroft dabbed to point, New Zealand 138 for 4.
- 29.3 overs: Foxcroft cut past backward point for a couple, moving to 140 for 4.
- 29.4 overs: Foxcroft hit long off for a run, New Zealand 141 for 4.
- 29.5 overs: Muhammad Abbas punched through covers for a single, New Zealand 142 for 4.
- 29.6 overs: Foxcroft tucked to mid-wicket, New Zealand 142 for 4.
- 30.1 overs: Abbas worked deep mid-wicket for a run, New Zealand 143 for 4.
- 30.2 overs: Foxcroft punched to mid-off for a single, still 143 for 4.
- 30.3 overs: Foxcroft blocked out, New Zealand 143 for 4.
- 30.4 overs: Foxcroft pulled in the deep on leg for one, New Zealand 144 for 4.
- 30.5 overs: Abbas ducked a short-pitched ball, score remained 144 for 4.
- 30.6 overs: Abbas tickled off the pads to the left of Das behind the stumps, New Zealand 144 for 4.
- 31.1 overs: Foxcroft smashed down the track for four, moving New Zealand to 148 for 4.
- 31.2 overs: Foxcroft tucked through square leg for one, New Zealand 149 for 4.
- 31.3 overs: Abbas guided to third man for a single, New Zealand 150 for 4.
- 31.4 overs: Foxcroft pulled to deep mid-wicket for one, New Zealand 151 for 4.
- 31.5 overs: Abbas nearly chopped it back onto the stumps but it landed behind the stumps and was gathered by the keeper on the bounce, still 151 for 4.
- 31.6 overs: Abbas again went for a pull late, missing the shot, with New Zealand remaining 151 for 4.
- 32.1 overs: Nahid Rana to Dean Foxcroft—short and wide of off, Foxcroft edged it through the vacant first slip area for four, bringing New Zealand to 155 for 4.
Key turning moments: pressure spikes and wickets
- At 131 for 4, drinks were taken after quick wickets had dented New Zealand, with the pitch aiding the spinners and the chase under heavy pressure.
- Henry Nicholls’ dismissal came at 27.5 overs: top-spin on an attempt at a reverse sweep led to a top-edge, with Litton Das taking the catch behind the stumps. Nicholls had made 68.
- Tom Latham’s setback followed at 26.3 overs: Mehidy Hasan Miraz bowled him after the ball kept low and hit the stumps via deflection off the front pad. Latham contributed 14 off 15.
- A notable review moment arrived at 28.2 overs: a loud appeal for LBW was overturned on-field, and DRS confirmed the ball would have missed the leg stump.
How the batting unfolded at the crease
Partnership-building before the setbacks
After getting to 120 for 2 at 24.6 overs, New Zealand steadily accumulated singles and boundaries. Tom Latham’s pull for four at 26.2 overs briefly lifted the momentum, but the innings then suffered a blow at 26.3 when Latham was bowled for 14 off 15.
Foxcroft’s finish and Abbas’s steadiness
Following the wicket of Nicholls, Dean Foxcroft arrived and began repairing the damage with patient strikes and timely boundaries. Muhammad Abbas, meanwhile, kept finding gaps—moving the score through singles and controlling the tempo until Foxcroft’s boundary at 32.1 overs took New Zealand to 155 for 4.
