Bangladesh beat New Zealand by five wickets

Bangladesh romped to a five-wicket victory over New Zealand -- the Tigers' first victory over the Kiwis away from home -- in the last match of the Ireland tri-series at the Clantorf Cricket Club in Dublin today.

Mahmudullah Riyad struck the second delivery of the 49th over from Hamish Bennett for a boundary to win the crucial encounter. Mahmudullah was unbeaten on 45 off 36 balls while Mushfiqur Rahim remined not out for a run-a-ball 45. Tamim Iqbal and Sabbir Rahman scored 65 each to lay the platform for the chase after the Bangladesh bowlers restricted the New Zealanders to 270 for 8.

Even if New Zealand had already won the title of the tri-series, the victory means Bangladesh overtake Sri Lanka in sixth place in the ICC ODI rankings, thereby enahcing the chances of automatic qualification into the 2019 ICC World Cup.

A pulled six off Hamish Bennett by Mahmudullah was part of the 12 runs taken from the 47th over, and Bangladesh are now 10 runs away from their first awa win over New Zealand and from the number 6 spot in the ODI rankings.  

Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad take Bangladesh to within touching distance as they take six off the 46th over from Matt Henry. Tigers now need 22 off the last four overs with five wickets in hand.

Shakib Al Hasan fell for 19 off 32 deliveries as Bangladesh were reduced to 202 for five in 40 overs against New Zealand, chasing 271 in the 6th match of the tri-series in Dublin today.

Earlier, Tamim Iqbal, Sabbir Rahman and Mosaddek Hossain fell in quick succession after a big second-wicket partnership had laid the platform for the chase. Tamim and Sabbir scored 65 runs apiece and stiched together a partnership of 136 runs.

Opener Soumya Sarkar fell to New Zealand off-spinner Jeetan Patel without scoring on the third delivery of the Bangladesh innings, but since then Tamim  and Sabbir put on a solid partnership. Tamim got out for 65 off 80 balls in the 27th over, falling to Mitchell Santner, before Sabbir fell two overs later, getting himself run-out for 65 off 83 deliveries. 

Soumya, who had scored two fifties in his two previous innings, got out to the first ball he faced as he sliced the ball to backward point where Corey Anderson took a simple catch.

Earlier, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Shakib Al Hasan picked up three wickets for three runs to restrict New Zealand to 270-8 in the 

Ross Taylor hit an unbeaten 60 but after the loss of three quick wickets the Black Caps failed to provide the final flourish against some superb bolwing from Mustafizur Rahman and Rubel Hossain, who came up with a barrage of Yourkers in his last two overs.

Mashrafe first struck to get rid off Neesham, who lobbed the ball into the air and safely into the arms of Mahmudullah Riyad, who grabbed the simple chance.

Shakib then took charge in the next over, sending Mitchell Santner back for a duck. A faster one from the left-armer completely decieved the batsman, who was clean bowled.

Mashrafe then had Munro caught for behind for one. The Kiwi swung at a ball pitched outside off, resulting in a thin edge carrying safely to Mushfiqur Rahim's hands.

C Munro c †Mushfiqur Rahim b Mashrafe Mortaza 1 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00

MJ Santner b Shakib Al Hasan 0 (6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

JDS Neesham c Mahmudullah b Mashrafe Mortaza 6 (10b 0x4 0x6) SR: 60.00

Nasir Hossain took two wickets in successive overs as Bangladesh pegged a runaway New Zealand in the final tri-series match at Dublin today. The off-spinner broke the ominous second wicket stand between Tom Latham and Neil Broom after the pair put on 133 runs to keep Bangladesh bowlers at bay and took New Zealand to 156 for 2 after 28.1 overs during the 6th Match of the Ireland Tri-Nation Series at Dublin today.

The Latham-Broom partnership looked increasing ominous with latham, who was dropped twice including while he was on nought in the first over, on 81 and right-handed Broom on 63 off 67 balls before Broom top-edged an atmepted sweep. Mashrafe at square leg took the catch.

N Broom c Mashrafe b Nasir 63 (67b 7x4 0x6) SR: 82.89

 

Nasir then bowled Latham for 84. Interstingly he was also responsible for dropping the stand-in New Zealand captain while he was on nought. The Black Caps lost their third wicket on 167 in 31.1 overs.

 T Latham  b Nasir 68 (92b 11x4 0x6) SR: 91.30

Latham, who is enjoying a rich vein of form was quick to pounce on anything loose and enjoyed the width offered to him by the Bangladesh bowlers today.

Earlier, Mustafizur Rahman gave Bangladesh the first breakthrough when he outfoxed Luke Ronchi with his slower ball to leave New Zealand at 23 for 1 after 3.4 overs.

Fizz gets his man, and the slower ball does the trick… Ronchi looks to drive a good length ball over the top, gets a leading edge, the ball goes high up in the air and Shakib completes the catch!

Last bat L Ronchi c Shakib Al Hasan b Mustafizur Rahman 2 (5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 40.00

Fall of wicket 23/1 (3.4 ov); Partnership: 23 runs, 3.4 overs, RR: 6.27

Bangladesh were unfortunate not to get an early breakthrough when Nasir Hossain dropped a sitter at short square-leg in the first over bowled by Mashrafe Mortaza.

New Zealand stand-in captain Tom Latham clipped the ball in the air towards square leg, Nasir got two hands to the ball and dropped a simple catch. Latham had already started walking off...

The Black Caps get the rub of the green…

Earlier, Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza won the toss and decided to field first against New Zealand.

It was a good toss to win for Mashrafe, whose team is taking the dead rubber as an opportunity to win their first game away from home against the Black Caps and more importantly to earn crucial ranking points that will enable them to rank sixth in the ICC ODI Rankings. It will also guarantee Bangladesh's direct entry in the 2019 World Cup.

Bangladesh have made one chance to the side that had won against Ireland by eight wickets on May 19 with experienced all-rounder Nasir Hossain coming in place of Sunzamul Islam, the left-arm spinner who made his ODI debut in the previous game.

Nasir last played for Bangladesh on 12 October, 2016 against England. He came back into contention for a place in the playing eleven by the strength of his performance in the domestic circuit this season.

The Bangladesh cricket team will play their last game against New Zealand at the Clontarf Cricket Club in Dublin today, and although New Zealand are already winners of the league-based competition by virtue of having won all their three matches so far, there will be plenty at stake for Bangladesh when they take the field.

Both sides are coming off strong wins in their previous games -- Bangladesh beating Ireland convincingly by eight wickets on Friday and New Zealand thrashing the home team by 190 runs on Sunday -- and so there might not be many changes.