Second T20I called off due to rain
Rain played spoilsport, allowing only 11 overs to be played as the second T20I of the three-match series between Bangladesh and New Zealand was called off at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui today
Rain showed no signs of relenting and the match only saw 66 balls bowled. The umpires waited till the end, considering the scope for a five-over-a-side contest but it was not to be.
Bangladesh will look to win the series in the final match on Sunday at the same venue while New Zealand will look to avoid a first series defeat against the Tigers at home in any format.
Rain interrupts play after 11 overs
Bad weather has interrupted the second match of the three-match T20I series following an entertaining 11 overs of action at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui today.
Asked to bat, the home side are 72 for two after 11 overs, with Daryl Mitchell (18*) and Glenn Phillips (nine*) in the middle.
Shoriful Islam and fellow pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib have combined to remove the two New Zealand openers.
All five specialist Bangladesh bowlers have bowled at least two overs. The wily Mustafizur Rahman was unlucky to remain wicket-less as he came close to send Mitchell packing in his second over, as both times the ball landed agonizingly short to the fielder at deep.
Tanzim dismisses dangerous Seifert
New Zealand opener Tim Seifert has demonstred immaculate timing as the right-hander raced to 43 off 23 before Bangladesh pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib produced the vital breakthrough for the visitors in the second T20I today.
The Black Caps are 61 for two after eight overs at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, which has traditionally produced high-scoring outcomes.
Seifert's blitz featured six boundaries and one maximum, struck all around the field. But in trying to strike another six, this time off Tanzim in his second over, he was out of balance while making the shot and the ball skied as high as the floodlights before captain Najmul Hossain Shanto judged it to perfection at mid-off.
Shoriful takes two balls to draw first blood
Spearheading the bowling attack, Shoriful Islam is continuing to operate in brilliant fashion in New Zealand as the Bangladesh pacer gave the first breakthrough today.
The Black Caps, however, remained unfazed opener Tim Seifert scored 19 off only nine balls to drive his side to 29 for one in four overs.
Finn Allen (2) fell prey to a Shoriful short-pitched delivery as he misplaced a lofted cut shot straight to Rishad Hossain at extra cover. In the over prior to it, Mahedi Hasan opened the proceedings and gave away nine runs as the wicket appears to be a belter.
Liton-less Bangladesh opt to bowl in second NZ T20I
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has won the toss and asked hosts New Zealand to bat first in the second and penultimate T20I at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui today.
The Tigers are yet to win a away series in New Zealand in any format, thus Bangladesh have an opportunity to pull off another unprecedented feat in their history after a five-wicket win in Napier – Bangladesh's first win against New Zealand in New Zealand -- gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the series.
A buoyant Shanto and company, however, faced a setback as keeper-batter Liton Das – who scored the team-high unbeaten 42 in the series opener – is sidelined due to the hamstring injury he sustained in the previous fixture. Shamim Hossain replaces Liton while Rony Talukdar will do the glovework.
"An MRI has confirmed he has a low-grade strain of the right hamstring and is not available for the 2nd T20 international. He has begun his rehab," informed Bangladesh physio Kieran Thoms.
The home side, however, have kept their squad unchanged.
Playing XIs:
Bangladesh: Rony Talukdar (wk), Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Towhid Hridoy, Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman
New Zealand: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (c), Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Ben Sears