A strong comeback was expected from New Zealand where they lost to the hosts in the first match. Tom Latham is captaining a team that is completely dependent on his batting and captaincy. Where the hosts once again managed to take advantage of the opposition’s weaknesses and win the second match of the series, Bangladesh took an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the series.
If we talk about the host Bangladesh, who recently made headlines by defeating Australia 4-1 and New Zealand in 2 matches of the ongoing series. But there is something in all this which cannot be ignored. If we look at the current teams of Australia and New Zealand who have toured Bangladesh, both the teams have played without their regular players. But victory is victory, yet the one who has kept Bangladesh in the headlines. It is expected that this is the fate of Bangladesh to help them defeat the big teams.
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Tom Latham's one-sided fight in the second match
In the second match, where the hosts won the toss and elected to bat, proving it right, the host’s opening pair added 59 runs for the first wicket. But Rachin Ravindra of New Zealand shocked the pace of the host by taking 2 wickets in 2 balls.
At one time, where the host was moving towards 180 runs, after these blows, Bangladesh’s score was reduced to 106 runs in 5 wickets in the 17th over. Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah’s unbeaten 37 not out took him to 6 wickets for 141 runs in his quota of 20 overs. New Zealand's Rachi Ravindra was the most successful bowler who took 3 wickets for 22 runs in his 4 over spell, who is an opener from New Zealand.
Now it was the turn of New Zealand to achieve the target of 142 runs in their allotted 20 overs. But both the openers of New Zealand had got the return ticket leaving the team in trouble, with which the team’s score was 2 wickets for 18 runs. With this, all the responsibility came on Captain Tom Latham to emerge the team from here, which the captain played well but without getting the support of any other batsman, New Zealand’s team lost the match by 4 runs.
Captain Tom Latham's 43-run partnership with Will Young brought him back in the match for the third wicket, but New Zealand failed to maintain the pace of the runs after Will Young's wicket. In the last over where New Zealand needed 20 runs, which they were unable to achieve, despite the captain's unbeaten 65 runs, which cannot be ignored.
