Tigers’ chance to cap off 2023 in style

Although rain had the last laugh in the second T20I between Bangladesh and New Zealand in Mount Maunganui as the match was called off with the hosts on 72 for two in 11 overs yesterday, it eventually ensured that the Tigers would end the series with an achievement they never experienced before.

Bangladesh came to the game yesterday on the back of a historic first-ever T20I triumph over the Black Caps on New Zealand soil. Hence, a no result in the second match meant that even a defeat in the third and final T20I would see the Tigers, who had never won a white-ball match against the Kiwis at their den before this tour, return home with a drawn series.

But the Najmul Hossain Shanto-led Bangladesh would definitely want more than just a drawn series, especially since they gained rhythm from their win in the third and final match of the preceding three-match ODI series.

However, trailing 1-0, the hosts will look to spoil the Tigers' party and wrap the series up with a comeback win in the final T20I in Mount Maunganui tomorrow.

Before the game was washed out on Friday, it was Shoriful Islam who once again provided an early breakthrough in the second over of the innings after Bangladesh elected to field. The left-arm seamer removed opener Finn Allen, caught at cover while going for a drive on two.

Although there were some missed opportunities initially, capitalised by the hosts through an early rampage from Tim Seifert, the Tigers were able to pull the strings when skipper Shanto took a smart catch running backwards from cover to dismiss Seifert after a 23-ball 43 off the bowling of pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib in the eighth over.

Since then, the visitors kept things tight, thanks to leg-spinner Rishad Hossain who conceded just 10 from his three overs before rain intervened for the last time.

It has been a mixed year for Bangladesh as they lost momentum in their favorite format, the ODIs, resulting in a World Cup debacle in India in November but managed to flourish in the shortest format of the game. Barring the three matches played by the second-string side in the Asian Games, Bangladesh won eight out of 10 T20Is in 2023.

With no fear of losing the series, the Tigers now have the perfect opportunity to wrap this year up by clinching their maiden T20I series against New Zealand at their den.

"It feels good that we got a big opportunity [to win the T20I series] and we will try to utilise it. We went out to win the game [yesterday] but we had nothing in our hands when it rained. However, we don't have any regret and we will try to win the next game and look to take the series," Rishad told the media after the game yesterday.

After missing out in the second T20I for suffering an injury in the first T20I, Bangladesh once again will be without wicketkeeper-batter Liton Das for the third and final T20I.