DHAKA: Skipper Mahmudullah struck an unbeaten 43 as Bangladesh defeated New Zealand by six wickets in the fourth Twenty20 International to seal the five-match series 3-1 in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Mahmudullah guided the hosts 96-4 in 19.1 overs after four wickets each from left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed and left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman helped them bowl out the Black Caps for 93 runs in 19.3 overs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

The visitors sniffed a chance once off-spinner Cole McConchie dismissed opener Liton Das (six) early and left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel struck twice in the same over to leave Bangladesh stuttering at 32-3.

Patel dragged Bangladesh’s star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan (eight) out of his crease for a stumping and bowled Mushfiqur Rahim for a duck three balls later in the sixth over of the innings.

Mohammad Naim and Mahmudullah, however, steadied the innings with 35 runs in the fourth wicket to put Bangladesh back in control.

Naim’s run-out for a 35-ball 29 with a throw of substitute fielder Doug Bracewell from deep backward square leg revived New Zealand’s chances.

But Mahmudullah, who hit two sixes and a four in his 48 ball innings, denied New Zealand further opportunity and sealed the contest with a six and four in successive overs to give Bangladesh their first ever series win over New Zealand in Twenty20 format.

Mahmudullah hailed the bowlers for the win.

“The bowlers did a great job once again to keep New Zealand to a low total. All the bowlers, Nasum, Mahedi, Mustafizur, bowled well. The batters tried their best,” the skipper said. “We just needed a good partnership in the middle and Naim and I tried that.”

Player-of-the-match Nasum earlier picked up a career-best 4-10 to dismantle New Zealand’s top-order before Mustafizur mopped up the tail with 4-12.

Will Young held one end to make 46 off 48 balls but he lacked support from the other end before being dismissed by Mustafizur in the final over of the innings.

“We were slightly under par,” said New Zealand captain Tom Latham. “We were looking at 100-110 but credit to Bangladesh. They batted well. After a couple of early wickets, they had it under control. The way Mahmudullah finished, credit to them.”

Bangladesh won the first two matches respectively by seven wickets and four runs while New Zealand reduced the gap with a 52-run win in Sunday’s third match.

The fifth match of the series will be played on Friday at the same venue.

Scoreboard

NEW ZEALAND:

R. Ravindra c Saifuddin b Nasum0

F.H. Allen c Saifuddin b Nasum12

T.W.M. Latham st Nurul b Mahedi21

W.A. Young c Mahmudullah b Mustafizur46

H.M. Nicholls b Nasum1

C. de Grandhomme c Nurul b Nasum0

T.A. Blundell c Naim b Mustafizur4

C.E. McConchie c and b Mustafizur0

A.Y. Patel b Saifuddin4

B.M. Tickner c Mahedi b Mustafizur2

H.K. Bennett not out0

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-1)3

TOTAL (all out, 19.3 overs)93

FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-16, 3-51, 4-52, 5-52, 6-72, 7-74, 8-91, 9-93.

BOWLING: Nasum Ahmed 4-0-10-4; Shakib Al Hasan 4-0-25-0; Mahedi Hasan 4-0-21-1; Mustafizur Rahman 3.3-0-12-4; Mohammad Saifuddin 3-0-16-1; Mahmudullah 1-0-7-0.

BANGLADESH:

Mohammad Naim run out29

Liton Das c Allen b McConchie6

Shakib Al Hasan st Latham b Patel8

Mushfiqur Rahim b Patel0

Mahmudullah not out43

Afif Hossain not out6

EXTRAS (LB-2, W2)4

TOTAL (for four wkts, 19.1 overs)96

FALL OF WKTS: 1-8, 2-32, 3-32, 4-67.

DID NOT BAT: Mahedi Hasan, Nurul Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman

BOWLING: Bennett 3-0-17-0; Patel 4-0-9-2; McConchie 3.1-0-34-1; Ravindra 4-0-8-0; de Grandhomme 3-0-13-0; Tickner 2-0-13-0.

RESULT: Bangladesh won by six wickets to lead five-match series 3-1.

UMPIRES: Gazi Sohel (Bangladesh) and Tanvir Ahmed (Bangladesh).

TV UMPIRE: Masudur Rahman (Bangladesh).

MATCH REFEREE: Neeyamur Rashid (Bangladesh).

PLAYER-OF-THE-MATCH: Nasum Ahmed.

FIFTH MATCH: Dhaka, Friday (3:00pm PST).

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2021