Tigers cruise to series victory

Mahmudullah Riyad hit the runs shot as Bangladesh created history by winning their first bilateral T20I series against New Zealand, registering a six-wicket win in the fourth T20I at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday to seal the five-match series 3-1.

Yesterday's win was also Bangladesh's ninth T20I victory of the year, the most by any team this year.

The Tigers chased down the small target of 94 runs with five balls to spare, continuing their dominance in the game's shortest format at home with a third successive T20I series, building on a maiden series win over Australia last month.

T20I skipper Mahmudullah guided his troops in the fourth T20I with an unbeaten 43 off 48 balls while opener Naim Sheikh added 29 runs.

However, it was not a straightforward chase, with Bangladesh at one stage struggling on 33 for three after Liton Das (6), Shakib Al Hasan (8) and Mushfiqur Rahim (0) departed in quick succession before Mahmudullah steadied the ship.

Earlier, New Zealand skipper Tom Latham elected to bat but the visitors failed to capitalise in the face of a clinical bowling display by the Tigers.

Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed and pacer Mustafizur Rahman shared eight wickets as the Kiwis were bundled out below 100 runs for the second time this series.

Nasum registered his best bowling figure in T20Is, ending with four wickets at the cost of just 10 runs from four overs, two of which were maidens. Meanwhile, Mustafizur showed his class and took on the New Zealand lower order to finish with the figures of four for twelve from 3.3 overs.

Will Young top-scored with 46 off 48 balls while skipper Latham added 21 but none of the other New Zealand batsmen were able to reach double figures. Their 35-run third-wicket stand was the only notable performance from the Kiwis.

Nasum bowled brilliantly, starting off by removing Kiwi openers Rachin Ravindra and Finn Allen. The 26-year-old was on a hattrick in the 12th over after he first bowled Henry Nicholls with a turning delivery coming into the left hander and followed it up with the wicket off Colin de Grandhomme, who gloved the ball to the keeper.

It was then Mustafizur magic in the latter stage of the innings as the left-arm pacer removed Tom Blundell and Cole McConchie in the same over.