BAN vs NZ, 3rd T20I Live: New Zealand won the toss and elected to field the third and final T20I against Bangladesh on Saturday.
Bangladesh will take confidence from their recent success in the 50-over format, where they clinched the ODI series 2-1 against New Zealand. This victory marked their third successive ODI series win, after victories over the West Indies cricket team and the Pakistan national cricket team.
Formations:
New Zealand: Katen Clarke, Tim Robinson, Dane Cleaver, Nick Kelly (captain), Bevon Jacobs, Dean Foxcroft, Josh Clarkson, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi, Jayden Lennox, Ben Sears.
Bangladesh: Tanzid Hassan, Saif Hassan, Liton Das (captain), Tawheed Hridoy, Parvez Hossain Emon, Shamim Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehdi Hasan, Rashad Hossain, Ripun Mondol, Shariful Islam.
Going into this clash, Bangladesh had the upper hand after the rain washed out the second T20I, ensuring they would not lose the series. The hosts have already clinched the ODI and will now aim for a clean sweep across the formats.
Confidence is high in the Bangladesh camp, with skipper Liton Das leading a team that has shown consistency throughout the tour. For New Zealand, this match is about saving pride. Despite finishing second in the 2026 T20 World Cup, their recent form has been patchy.
Back-to-back losses to South Africa have already raised concerns, and another defeat here will only add to their woes. Led by Nick Kelly, the visitors will be desperate to end the tour on a positive note.
The decision to go first may be influenced by conditions, with rain looming as a constant threat. The weather outages have already affected the series, and both teams are hoping to get a full game to properly make the playoff.
The Bangladesh batting unit, which includes the likes of Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Tauheed Hridoy, will look to put up a tough total, while their bowlers are disciplined enough to defend under pressure.
New Zealand, on the other hand, will rely on their bowling attack, including Ish Sodhi and Ben Lister, to restrict the hosts and give their attackers an easy chase.
With pride, momentum, and a potential series sweep on the line, all eyes are on what promises to be an exciting contest – weather permitting.