Nasum, Mustafizur restrict New Zealand to 93

Spinner Nasum Ahmed and pacer Mustafizur Rahman took four wickets each to help Bangladesh restrict New Zeeland to 93 runs in their penultimate Twenty20 International match in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Opting to bat first, New Zealand fell to Bangladesh bowling since the beginning as the visitors were all out in 19.3 overs in Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka.

Leg spinner Nasum Ahmed struck early. He had Rachin Ravindra holing out on the sweep in the fifth delivery of the first over. Mohammad Saifuddin took the catch.

Kiwi skipper Tom Latham (21) joined opener Finn Allen (12) building a quick resistance with 16-run partnership from 11 balls until Nasum Ahmed struck again and removed Finn Allen.

Will Young top-scored 46 off 45 balls with five fours and a six.

Will Young and Tom Latham built a 35-run partnership to bring a little relief to the visitors before the later was stumped out in the third delivery of the eleventh over.

Tigers’ bowlers continued the barrage of attacks on the Kiwi batsmen.

Nasum Ahmed had Colin de Grandhomme for a duck and Henry Nicholls for just one run.

Left-arm pacer Mustfizur Rahman took the wickets of Cole McConchie and Tom Blundell.

However, Will Young managed to launch assaults on the hosts until pacer Mustfizur Rahman had him caught by Mahmudullah in the second ball of the last over.

In the next delivery, Mustafizur Rahman removed Blair Tickner to stop Kiwis at 93 runs all out.

Mohammad Saifuddin and Mahedi Hasan bagged a wicket apiece.

Bangladesh lead the five-match series 2-1. The hosts won the first two matches by seven wickets and four runs respectively, while the visitors secured a 52-run win in the third game.