On Sunday (December 31), the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui became the scene of a rousing yet ultimately thwarted quest for victory by Bangladesh. The Blackcaps managed to sneak past Bangladesh in a rain-affected third match of their T20I series, ending the game short by 17 runs according to the DLS method and preventing their opponents from securing what could have been a momentous series win on New Zealand soil.
In an encounter thwarted by the weather, the home side, led by Mitchell Santner, was batting at 95 for the loss of 5 wickets after 14.4 overs, pursuing a modest target of 111 runs. As both teams exhibited fervor and competitive spirit, the tumultuous skies above unleashed a deluge accompanied by lightning and thunder, prompting umpires Chris Brown and Wayne Knights to usher the players off the field. Despite a 20-minute interlude with hopes of resumption dwindling, officials concluded that no further play was feasible, handing the New Zealand team a premature yet decisive triumph.
Although the chase seemed underwhelming initially, New Zealand found a semblance of stability when Santner and Jimmy Neesham joined forces at the crease, crafting a crucial 46-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Santner, calm and collected, remained unbeaten with 18 runs from 20 balls, while Neesham added a rapid 28 not out from the same number of deliveries.
Bangladesh’s bowlers, particularly Shoriful Islam who exhibited control and precision, had initially put New Zealand under pressure. Shoriful ended the day with impressive figures of 2/17 in 3.4 overs. His consistent performances throughout the series garnered him the Player of the Series award, a testament to his six wickets at critical junctures across the matches. Simultaneously, New Zealand’s batting lineup—save for Finn Allen’s respectable 38 off 31 balls—struggled to deal with the opposition’s attack, as Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, and Mark Chapman each contributed a single run, leaving their side teetering at 49/5 in 8.3 overs.
The stage for this dramatic showdown was set earlier in the day when Santner, after winning the toss, wisely opted to bowl first. This decision paid dividends as New Zealand’s pacemen—Tim Southee, Ben Sears, and Adam Milne—decimated the Bangladeshi top-order. Santner himself demonstrated his prowess with the ball, stepping in after the fall of Rony Talukdar, and dismantled the opposition with a sensational spell capturing 4/16 in four overs. His endeavor not only curtailed Bangladesh’s innings but also secured him the Player of the Match in a display that was nothing short of masterful.
With little respite, Bangladesh’s innings sputtered to a close at 110, all out in the final over. A confrontation that had the potential to be a nail-biter was truncated by the elements, leaving fans and players alike pondering the ‘what if’s of a full match’s worth of play.
The series, culminating in this rain-shortened encounter, reflected the ever-present drama and unpredictability of cricket. While stellar individual performances shone through the gloom, the series outcome reasserted the challenge visiting teams face in New Zealand—a challenge Bangladesh will surely aim to overcome in future tours.
As the cricket world looks forward to the next chapter in these competitive fixtures, Sunday’s game will be remembered for the battle against the elements, a spirited Bangladesh unit, and the Blackcaps’ resilience—a reminder of the multifaceted appeal of the sport, both in skill and in the unpredictable forces of nature that play their part.
