Black Caps ease to series sweep

New Zealand have completed a Twenty20 whitewash of Bangladesh with a 27-run win in the third and final international at Bay Oval in Mt Maunganui.

The win was set up by a Corey Anderson's 41-ball 94 which helped New Zealand reach 194-4, and was underlined by a disciplined bowling effort headed by Ish Sodhi's 2-22 off four overs.

Anderson, who had posted distinctly average scores of 13 and four in the first two matches, and skipper Kane Williamson featured in a pivotal partnership, putting on 124 runs in 72 balls for the fourth wicket.

Williamson was bowled for 60 by Rubel Hossain with 11 balls remaining, but Anderson went on to finish his innings with a flourish.

He belted 24 off nine balls, clearing the rope three times to set a New Zealand T20 record of 10 sixes, bettering Brendon McCullum's eight set seven years ago against Australia.

Williamson and Anderson came together early in the seventh over, with the Black Caps teetering at 41-3, building momentum slowly in reaching 55-3 after 10 overs before finishing strongly.

Bangladesh's chase started well despite the unexpected absence of an injured Imrul Kayes, with makeshift openers Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sakar putting on 44 off 4.4 overs for the opening wicket.

Trent Boult, who finished with 2-42, removed Tamim for 24 with a shorter ball, but Soumya kept the run rate ticking over at around 10 an over.
He went two balls into the eighth over for 42 off 28 balls, Sodhi taking a tricky caught and bowled in a swirling wind, and it was all downhill for Bangladesh.

They were two batsmen short, Kayes pushed down the order after injuring his knee when he crashed into the advertising hoardings as he tried to haul in a Corey Anderson six.

Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza was also doubtful after another Anderson drive crashed into his hand.

In their absence, Bangladesh struggled for momentum, losing wickets regularly as they battled to 167-7 off their 20 overs.

New Zealand, who also went unbeaten in three one-day internationals against Bangladesh last month, now begin a two-Test series in Wellington on Thursday.

via Radio Sport