At a glance
- New Zealand crush Bangladesh by 6 wickets in rain-hit 3rd T20I
- Bevon Jacobs stars with unbeaten 62 off 31 balls in quick chase
- Josh Clarkson takes 3 for 9 as Bangladesh bowled out for 102
New Zealand signed off the rain affected third T20I in style, as Bevon Jacobs delivered a commanding unbeaten 62 to seal a 6-wicket win and square the series against Bangladesh at 1-1.
In a contest reduced to 15 overs per side after a 2-hour rain delay that had been semi-anticipated due to overcast conditions, New Zealand combined discipline with aggression to chase down a DLS-adjusted target of 104, finishing on 104 for 4 in just 11.4 overs.
New Zealand 104 for 4 (Jacobs 62*, Robinson 23, Shoriful 3-19) beat Bangladesh 102 (Hridoy 33, Clarkson 3-9, Sears 2-12) by six wickets (DLS method). View the full scorecard here.
New Zealand Crush Bangladesh by 6 Wickets in Clinical Chase
The visitors showed composure despite early setbacks, overturning a shaky start to cruise to victory with 20 balls remaining. Jacobs stood tall under pressure, striking 62 off 31 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes in a knock that blended authority with timing.
His calculated assault on the Bangladesh spinners proved decisive, as he closed out the match with a flourish that underlined New Zealand’s control.
Clarkson Leads Bowling Charge Before Jacobs Takes Over
Earlier, Josh Clarkson produced a standout spell of 3 for 9 in 3 overs to dismantle Bangladesh after the rain break. His effort ensured the hosts were bowled out for 102 in 14.5 overs.
Nathan Smith set the tone with a double strike, while debutant Jayden Lennox marked his arrival with a wicket off his very first ball in T20I cricket.
Support came from Ben Sears, who returned figures of 2 for 12, and Ish Sodhi as Bangladesh struggled to build any sustained partnerships.
A lone bright spot for the home side was Towhid Hridoy, whose 33 off 25 balls helped push the total past the 100-run mark.
Shoriful Sparks Early Drama with Three-Wicket Burst
Shoriful Islam threatened to turn the contest with a sharp opening spell. He removed Katene Clarke for 1 and Dane Cleaver for 0 in quick succession, both caught behind.
He later added the wicket of Tim Robinson, who had contributed a brisk 23 off 15 balls, to finish with 3 for 19 in 4 overs.
For a brief period at 35 for 3, Bangladesh sensed an opening, but Jacobs ensured that hope was short lived.
Jacobs Finishes with Flair to Level Series
Taking charge in the middle overs, Jacobs shifted momentum firmly in New Zealand’s favour. He brought up his fifty in just 28 balls and dominated the closing stages with fearless strokeplay.
A sequence of 6, 4, 6 off Rishad Hossain sealed the win emphatically, capping off a performance that highlighted New Zealand’s depth and composure in challenging conditions.
With one match washed out and the series ending level, both sides will take positives, but it was New Zealand who walked away with momentum after a convincing finish.
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