BAN vs NZ, 3rd T20I Live: New Zealand won the toss and opted to bowl in 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 ODI series win in a row, following triumphs over the West Indies Cricket Team and the Pakistan National Cricket Team.
Assemblies:
New Zealand: Katene Clarke, Tim Robinson, Dane Cleaver, Nick Kelly (captain), Bevon Jacobs, Dean Foxcroft, Josh Clarkson, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi, Jayden Lennox, Ben Sears.
Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan, Saif Hassan, Litton Das (captain), Towhid Hridoy, Parvez Hossain Emon, Shamim Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Ripon Mondol, Shoriful Islam.
Bangladesh have the upper hand in this clash after rain washed away the second T20I, ensuring they cannot lose the series. The hosts have already secured the ODI leg and will now aim for a clean sweep across formats.
Confidence is high in the Bangladesh camp, with captain Litton Das leading a side that has shown consistency throughout the tour. For New Zealand, this match is about saving pride. Despite being runners-up in the 2026 T20 World Cup, their recent form has been patchy.
The series loss to South Africa has already raised concerns and another defeat here would only deepen their struggle. Led by Nick Kelly, visitors will be desperate to end the tour on a positive note.
The decision to line up first could be affected by the conditions, with rain looming as a constant threat. The weather has already taken its toll on the series suspension and both teams will be hoping for a full game that will be a proper battle for the decider.
Bangladesh batting unit with the likes of Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Towhid Hridoy will look to put up a challenging total while their bowlers have been 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 batting a manageable chase.
With pride, momentum and a potential series dial, all eyes are on what promises to be a thrilling contest – weather permitting.
