Bangladesh 265 for 8 (Shanto 105, Litton 76, O'Rourke 3-32) v New Zealand
Najmul Hossain Shanto's fourth ODI century, and Litton Das's first half-century in two and a half years, rescued Bangladesh in the third ODI against New Zealand. The hosts finished on 265 for 8 in 50 overs after slipping to 32 for 3 in the powerplay. However, they will rue the last five overs, where they scored only 34 runs; this was largely due to their long batting tail in the series decider.
Shanto, who had retired hurt due to cramps in the second ODI after reaching an unbeaten half-century, led the rebuild with dominant strokeplay. Litton, in a one-day funk for the last three years, took up the anchor's role. The pair added 160 runs - Bangladesh's highest fourth-wicket stand against New Zealand - from that difficult position in the ninth over.
Fast bowler Will O'Rourke had rocked Bangladesh early with three wickets. He removed Saif Hassan with a peach of an away-going delivery in the second ball of the match. The first of his victims was Tanzid Hasan, who made an effervescent half-century in the previous game. He looked tentative in his first four balls, before inside-edging O'Rourke on to his stumps in the third over. Shanto and Soumya Sarkar struck five fours as a counterattack, but O'Rourke had the last laugh when Sarkar's stumps were rattled too.
Shanto and Litton didn't press the panic button, allowing time to settle their nerves as the New Zealand bowlers dominated the hard lengths. Shanto's top-edged six off Ben Lister in the 14th over was against the run of play, as it wasn't until the 20th over that the pair looked comfortable.
New Zealand conceded extra runs through a misfield and overthrow in that over, before Shanto pulled Josh Clarkson to bring up the fifty partnership. Shortly afterwards, Muhammad Abbas dropped Litton on 29, off his own bowling, before Shanto brought up his second fifty in two games, off 70 balls.
Litton found his first boundary in the 29th over after he faced 60 balls, while Shanto had struck six fours and a six by then. Litton's second boundary brought up the century partnership in the 30th over with Bangladesh's innings turning a corner.
Litton brought up his fifth half-century with a single in the 33rd over, his first in nearly three years, having batted 19 innings between the two innings during this phase. Meanwhile, Shanto launched Nathan Smith's cutter back over his head for a second six, adding to New Zealand's misfortune after O'Rourke dropped the left-hander off the next ball at short midwicket. Shanto, despite the drop at 75, continued to charge at Smith in his next over, hammering him for a four over mid-on.
Litton then swung O'Rourke for a four and a six in the 38th over, before falling to Lennox in the next over, missing an inside out shot against the left-arm spinner. Litton made 76 off 91 balls with three fours and a six. Shanto, on the other hand, reached his century in the 41st over. He fell soon after, miscuing Lennox just two overs later, running gingerly and appearing out of steam in humid conditions.
New Zealand did well to dry up the boundaries in the last ten overs. Bangladesh struck just three fours and a six in that crucial period, as Towhid Hridoy and Mehidy Hasan Miraz looked to be wary of the oncoming long tail. Shoriful Islam and Tanvir Islam fell within a few balls, before Hridoy tried to up the tempo but without much success.
Apart from O'Rourke's three wickets, Lister and Lennox took two wickets each while Dean Foxcroft picked up one.
