In Short
The BLACKCAPS have extended their lead atop the ICC Twenty20 rankings, after a 27 run victory against Bangladesh in the third and final T20 at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
In front of another god crowd, left hander Corey Anderson turned on the fireworks, belting a New Zealand record 10 sixes in a whirlwind knock of 94 off 41 to get the BLACKCAPS through to 194.
Spinner Ish Sodhi would prove the difference in the run chase, claiming 2-22 from his four overs to cripple the Bangladesh innings through the middle after the visitors got off to a fast start.
The 3-0 series victory secures Kane Williamson’s men the world number one ranking as they now refocus for the remaining two Tests of the tour.
Blundell Debuts
With incumbent Luke Ronchi unavailable through injury, 26-year-old Wellington gloveman Tom Blundell was given his first crack in a black-cap (or more a beige). Blundell would slot into the order at seven with Jimmy Neesham promoted to open with the skipper.
Tough First 10
The numbers tell the story - the BLACKCAPS only passed 50 in the ninth over for the loss of three wickets. Bangladesh bowled well up front and took their catches to put the hosts on the back foot.
The Rebuild
At 41-3 after the opening six over power play, captain Kane Williamson and Corey Anderson came together with a big job to do. They patiently went about the rescue mission, putting on 50 runs from 40 balls to give themselves a chance at a late flurry.
Corey Explodes
When our Corey hits them - they stay hit. And boy did he find his range at Bay Oval on Sunday. 60 runs in sixes! His 10 sixes the most by any Kiwi in a T20 and some of them were seriously big. Hitting in the much vaunted ‘V’, the 26-year-old destroyed the Bangladesh bowlers in the second half of the innings. Pure power and clean ball striking. Was on track for the fastest T20 International hundred (Richard Levi - 45 balls v BLACKCAPS in Hamilton in 2012) before the innings closed leaving him 94 not out.
Kane Plays His Part
It wasn’t his most fluent innings, but Williamson’s 60 off 57 was the perfect foil for Anderson’s pyrotechnics. The pair combined for 124 runs in total and catapulted the BLACKCAPS to a fine total of 194. An incredible 144 runs coming from the final 11 overs.
A Bright Start
Bangladesh came out swinging and it paid dividends. Their first 50 runs coming in just 34 balls, less than half the time it took the BLACKCAPS! Soumya did most of the damage, hitting with the wind he raced through to 42 off 28.
Big Moment
It’s easy to forget that Ish Sodhi is still only 24-years-old. The talented leg spinner has been on the international scene for a fair while and he showed all his skill and class to break the game open when the visitors were in the box seat at 82-1 at the start of his ninth over. A lovely flighted leggie would suck Soumya into a top edge that flew high in the air. Sodhi, running back over his shoulder, took a wonderfully judged catch in the swirling breeze - a wicket that would turn the match!
Super Spinners
Sodhi would eventually bowl four pivotal overs, conceding just 22 runs and claiming two wickets in a match winning spell. He also got support from Mitchell Santner (1-37) and his captain who rolled through a couple of overs to claim a wicket and concede just nine runs. Along promising left arm seamer Ben Wheeler (0-29 off four overs) the BLACKCAPS put the squeeze on in the middle and left Bangladesh requiring too much too late.
Spoils
A comprehensive 3-0 series victory for the hosts which retains their number one ranking in T20 cricket. A team full of match winners, who have shown they can win different ways in different conditions. Exciting times! Watch this space!
