New Zealand crush Bangladesh by 164 runs; complete 3-0 whitewash

New Zealand defeated Bangladesh by 164 runs in the 3rd ODI to complete a comprehensive 3-0 clean sweep. After a miserable performance in the 1st ODI, Bangladesh fared a little better in the 2nd ODI. Going into the 3rd match, many would have expected them to pose a stern challenge to the hosts. However, that was not the case to be as they were blown away by the Kiwis.

Opting to bat, New Zealand got off to a decent start, adding 44 runs for the 1st wicket before Henry Nicholls(18) and Martin Guptill(26) fell in quick succession. Ross Taylor, who was making a comeback, too departed for 7, leaving the hosts reeling at 57-3. Tom Latham joined Devon Conway in the middle and the duo added 63 runs for the 4th wicket before Latham was dismissed by Soumya Sarkar for 18. At 120-4, the Kiwis looked in big trouble but Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell, the two young guns of New Zealand, bailed the hosts out of trouble and stitched a mammoth 159 run stand for the 5th wicket. Conway was dismissed for a magnificent 126 while Mitchell fetched his maiden hundred on the final ball of the inning. The partnership meant that New Zealand have a defendable total of 318 runs on the board.

The target was a stiff one and against this New Zealand attack, it looked even more daunting. Bangladesh batted well in the previous game thus their fans must have had some hopes of a fightback. However, all their hopes were shattered within a blink of an eye as Matt Henry rattled the Bangladesh top order, leaving them stunned at 26-3. The wickets kept on tumbling at regular intervals as none of the batsmen, apart from Mahmudullah (76), was able to resist the Kiwi force. The visitors were bowled out for 154, losing the match by 164 runs. Jimmy Neesham was the star of New Zealand bowling and picked up a 5 wicket haul while Matt Henry returned with figures of 4-27.