New Zealand (208/5) defeat Bangladesh (160/7) by 48 runs to qualify for the final of the Triseries

[Suleiman]

Props to BD for going down guns blazing.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Shakib is doing his best. He needs a big hitter to support him.

 

[jnaveen1980]

You need six hitting to bridge the gap drastically. You cannot do it with boundaries. BD has the worst six hitting per match in NZ

Bangladesh has the poorest six-per-match ratio in New zealand

England 9.33 per match
South africa 9 per match
Zimbabwe 8.5 per match
India 8.1 per match
Australia 8.1 per match
Pakistan 5.46 per match
West India 5.45 per match
Srilanka 3.8 per match
BD 3.4 per match

 

[jnaveen1980]

Milne too hot for bD 3 for 11 in 3rd over.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Milne bowls only at 141 kph. But it definitely looks quicker than it is.

 

[zacattakk]

Very good knock by Shakib but there doesnt seem to be any other decent batter in their team. You cant chase 200+ singlehandedly

 

[IAJ]

Did they play on a new pitch today, I mean not used previously in this tri-series?

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Did they play on a new pitch today, I mean not used previously in this tri-series?

Yes.

 

[MenInG]

So it's Pakistan vs New Zealand in the final but there's still a game left in this tri-series. Tomorrow Bangladesh take on Pakistan. A game for both sides to try out a few things before the T20 World Cup.

 

[daytrader]

Devon Conway and Adam Milne power Black Caps into tri-series final

At Hagley Oval, Christchurch: New Zealand 208-5 (Devon Conway 64 from 40, Glenn Phillips 60 from 24, Martin Guptill 34 from 27; Mohammad Saifuddin 2-37, Ebadot Hossain 2-40) beat Bangladesh 160-7 (Shakib Al Hasan 70 from 44; Adam Milne 3-24, Tim Southee 2-36, Michael Bracewell 2-39) by 48 runs.

Toss: Bangladesh opted to field

Another day, another Devon Conway masterclass, and another Black Caps’ victory.

Opener Conway continued his imperious form in New Zealand’s 48-run win against Bangladesh at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval on Wednesday, setting up a tri-series final against Pakistan at the same venue on Friday.

The left-hander struck 64 from 40 in New Zealand’s imposing 208-5 – just the fifth time 200 has been topped in a T20 at Hagley Oval – before Adam Milne’s 3-24 helped restrict the visitors to 160-7 on a day the Kiwis rested captain Kane Williamson.

It guarantees the Black Caps one more all-important hit out before the T20 World Cup across the ditch, starting October 16.

That’s good news. After all, they could do with another match to address their increasingly concerning yips in the field.

After a host of uncharacteristic blunders across their first three games of the series, the Black Caps again made a series of mistakes.

The usually sure-handed Tim Southee’s drop at mid-on off Milne’s bowling was notable, as was Glenn Phillips putting down Shakib Al Hasan at cow corner off Michael Bracewell’s bowling.

Sub fielder Blair Tickner’s sloppy midfield at fine leg cost four runs, and then there was the comical chance which went begging in Trent Boult’s opening over.

Boult was one of four players – Phillips, captain Southee and Conway were the others – who showed interest in catching a ball Najmul Hossain Shanto skied halfway to the moon, only for all of them to back off and allow it to land safely.

Just as well Milne, having watched Southee drop the same batter a little later, flattened his middle pole to ensure no real damage was done.

But Al Hasan, who was on 11 at the time of his first let off, and on 67 when Tickner later dropped him again, did make the Kiwis pay, striking 70 from 44 before Southee nicked him out in the penultimate over with the result as good as in the bag courtesy of New Zealand’s monster total.

The Black Caps’ batters sure looked at ease on the fresh Hagley strip after the visitors won the toss and sent the Kiwis in.

Having played on an increasingly tiring wicket in recent days, it was immediately clear the way leather kissed off willow this was a sure-paced pitch for batters to go to work on.

Having leaned on his bat and watched fellow opener Finn Allen (32 from 19) dominate their 45-run opening stand, Conway continued his golden form once Martin Guptill, who struck 34 filling in for Williamson at No 3, joined him in the middle.

Fresh from scoring an unbeaten 49 against Pakistan the previous day, and 36 and 70 not out in earlier fixtures, Conway again paced the Black Caps’ innings with the type of knock sure to fuel confidence ahead of the World Cup.

His ability to split the field with impeccable placement and rotate the strike is one thing, but Conway’s ability to find the boundary shouldn’t be underestimated.

He struck five fours and three sixes during his 40-ball knock, before he drilled one down deep square leg’s gob.

It didn’t matter. Not with Phillips in the middle and the Black Caps primed to launch at 161-3 after 16.1 overs.

Phillips went berserk, clubbing a 19-ball half century, whacking five sixes and a couple of fours before he was cleaned up with 60 runs from 24 balls to his name.

The big moment
Let’s go with Milne, limited to two overs in his last match, getting through four overs of scorching pace unscathed.

Best with the bat
As dynamic as Phillips was, it has to be Conway, the master of rotating the strike and picking the gaps. He’ll carry plenty of New Zealand’s hopes in Australia shortly.

Best with the ball
Milne and his searing pace is a point of difference, no doubt about it. Now, if only he and Lockie Ferguson can remain fit.

The big picture
Forget what happens between Pakistan and Bangladesh on Thursday, the Black Caps and Pakistan will clash on Friday in one final bash before the all-important World Cup.

 

[sweep_shot]

As expected, BD got steamrolled.

Glad I didn't stay up the night to watch this farce.