Bangladesh in the dark over required run chase

The Bangladeshi cricketers were left frustrated after starting their innings in Napier on Tuesday without knowing their target.

Rain stopped play and caused confusion as New Zealand eventually wrapped up the T20 series with a 28-run victory.

After being sent in to bat, New Zealand reached 173-5 in 17.5 overs before the umpires called the players from the field due to rain, which ended the Black Caps’ innings.

It was the second time play had been stopped. Earlier in the game the players were off the field for 25 minutes due to rain but no overs were lost during that delay.

Glenn Phillips’ unbeaten 58 off 31 balls and a 34-run cameo from Daryl Mitchell helped the home side to recover after the loss of three wickets in the first seven overs of the game.

In reply, Bangladesh started their batting innings without a confirmed total to chase.

The visitors took the field knowing their innings had been reduced to 16 overs and play was paused after nine balls as the umpires came together to confirm the revised total of 170 runs for victory, decided by the DuckworthLewis-Stern method.

It left Bangladesh coach Russell

Domingo very frustrated.

“I’ve never been involved in a game like that before where a game starts and nobody quite knows what the targets are. I don’t think the game should have started until it was finalised and there was a clear indication what the was required and what we needed at certain stages so I don’t think that was good enough.”

Domingo says he was told they were still waiting for the calculation printouts and couldn’t delay the start because they needed to get the overs in.

In the end the run-rate was too much for Bangladesh to achieve despite the efforts of Soumya Sarkar who blasted 51 runs off 27 balls.

Tim Southee, Hamish Bennett and Adam Milne picked up two wickets each in the win.

It was New Zealand’s seventh series win of their home summer.

“It’s nice to have another series in the bag,” said stand in captain Southee.

“It’s been a very, very good summer, and been great to be part of. We’re very privileged here in New Zealand to have teams come in here and help make a great summer.”

The final match in the series takes place at Eden Park in Auckland from 7pm today.