Big picture
At the break of day on the 50th Independence Day of Bangladesh, it is hoped that the cricket team in New Zealand will host a match that matches the big event. Many fans back home will be hoping that when they wake up on Friday, Bangladesh will be going to bed with New Zealand in Wellington.
After New Zealand’s middle order to win them to a series in the second ODI in Christchurch, this game has gained dead rubber status. But in the age of Super League ODI, every game counts and Bangladesh hopes to get all ten points out of New Zealand at any cost. The home team, however, will be encouraged by the return of Ross Taylor, who did a fitness test after missing the first two games.
Taylor welcomes the middle order. At Christchurch, New Zealand were reduced to 53 for 3 before Tom Latham and Devon Conway revived their fiery defeat. The third wicket pair ran 113 runs, before Latham took it upon himself to finish the chase with his fifth ODI – his third undefeated attempt in a successful run.
Latham also acknowledged Jimmy Neesham and Daryl Mitchell for their support during the run, as he scored 76 for the fifth wicket with Neesham and the last 33 runs with new entrant Mitchell. Latham was also lucky, after being dropped at 58, minutes after Neesham dropped to three.
Bangladesh would go on to miss the missed opportunities, which outperformed battery performance far better in the game. Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Mithun spent half-centuries at various innings to help the side reach 271. Iqbal was patient in his 78 off 108 members, as he saw his first distance of New Zealand with Soumya Sarkar and struggling Mushfiqur Rahim. . But after Iqbal ran out through Neesham’s elegant footwork, Mithun blamed six fours and two sixes in the 73 without his knowledge.
But Bangladesh archers could not translate their first big score to victory. They may have been a little too impatient towards the latter part of the New Zealand chase, especially after Rahim let down Neesham’s ruling margin. For a long time in the game though, the players kept out Mahedi Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz asking questions, which made Latham and Conway more conservative.
Bangladesh need to put up another big score on a difficult range against a brilliant bowling attack, but Iqbal and the rest of the bats have shown they have the potential to do the job in New Zealand.
Form instructions
(Last five games completed)
New Zealand WWLWW
Bangladesh LLWWW
In mind
Martin Guptill have looked menacing in the first two ODIs but have only scored 58 runs so far. At the Basin Reserve, he is expected to fulfill expectations from this series and reproduce his era against Pakistan in the last ODI played at this venue three years ago.
Mohammad Mithun he broke free from a pattern of low scores by scintillating 73 off 57 balls in Christchurch. Mithun also played some catchy shots, which differed from his middle-order conservative approach. Maybe he can make this new avatar for himself.
Team news
Ross Taylor’s arrival means Will Young is unlikely to play. New Zealand have Tim Southee in their squad if they want to replace Trent Boult.
New Zealand (possibly): 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Henry Nicholls, 3 Devon Conway, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Tom Latham (capt & wk), 6 James Neesham, 7 Daryl Mitchell, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Kyle Jamieson, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Trent Boult / Tim Southee
Bangladesh are unlikely to break the combination that pushed the hosts in the second ODI, although hamtafing Mustafizur Rahman remains a question mark until Friday’s throw.
Bangladesh (possibly): 1 Tamim Iqbal (capt), 2 Liton Das, 3 Soumya Sarkar, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk) 5 Mohammad Mithun, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz 8 Mahedi Hasan, 9 Mohammad Saifuddin, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Mustafizur Rahman
Park and conditions
The Basin Reserve went out on a green roof in the Test between New Zealand and the West Indies in December last year. It is unlikely to be as terrible on Friday, with sides initially batting at an average 280-plus in the last decade.
Stats and trivia
- The Basin Reserve has only hosted three ODIs in the last decade, and this is its first in more than three years.
- Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mahedi Hasan made their first films for Khulna Division in the same game in 2015. Mahedi is three years older than 23-year-old Miraz, who is, however, a top cricketer with 83 inter-league games. national compared to Mahedi six.
Quotes
“We had some luck going our way in the last game, and I’m sure Bangladesh will want to finish the ODI series on a high note.”
The most experienced bat in New Zealand Ross Taylor monitoring the potential of Bangladesh
Mohammad Isam is a Bangladeshi journalist at ESPNcricinfo. @ isam84