Live Cricket Score of New Zealand vs Bangladesh, 3rd ODI at Nelson

Live Cricket Score of New Zealand vs Bangladesh, 3rd ODI at Nelson

Ahh! Will He Get There?:

Neesham has just hit a boundary now, three more needed to win with Williamson batting on 94. Can he hit a six, get there to the milestone and finish the game off in style? All eyes on him. This can get nervous for the fans, I am sure.

Can He.. Or Can He Not?:

The only interesting bit in this formality right now is if Kane Williamson can get to the triple figure mark? Would have been wonderful to see both the batsmen get there, but it wasn't to be. This is going to be a big knock for the skipper, who had run dry for runs this year but this should make him happy, he's on his way to end the year on a high.

Seize The Moment, It Will Echo Forever:

Neil Broom has lived up to the age old saying. Few weeks back, he was happy playing at the Derbyshire Cricket Club and all of a sudden, he finds himself in New Zealand colours after six years. A match-winning hundred in the previous ODI got him up and running.

And although, he has missed his second hundred very narrowly, he would still feel that he has made the most of this opportunity. When Ross Taylor comes back, it would be difficult to fit Broom in the eleven and despite that, to keep himself motivated, deserves an applause.

Well played for the 97!!

Williamson, Broom Taking The Game Away:

Williamson seems to have finally found his form, as he continues to bat freely. Neil Broom has looked quite comfortable too, ever since he was dropped early. Both the batsmen have crossed the 50-run stand long back and are fast approaching the 100-run mark now. Slowly but steadily, they are taking the game away from B'desh. A whitewash looks imminent now.

Williamson In Search Of His Mojo:

He got going in the previous match too but failed to convert his well made start into something substantial. And today, he has struck two boundaries in a row now. Seems to be in good touch again, can he guide his side through this run chase?

Ahh! Dropped..:

Bangladesh cannot afford such dropped chances, nobody can for that matter. Mustafizur could have had another wicket but not to be, that's disappointing indeed. Off-cutter, his favourite delivery, takes the outside edge of the centurion from the previous ODI, but dropped by Imrul Kayes at first slip. It carried comfortably but put down.

Neil Broom would be thanking his heavens

Guptill Injured..:

This is not the best of news for the New Zealand camp. Martin Guptill seems to have pulled his hamstring while taking that single on that occasion. I would assume that he was playing deep in the crease before he had to really get out of the blocks for that quick single. Must have done something to that hamstring. Seems to be in excruciating pain.

And that's a gorgeous drive but ooohh!! He is down in some pain, more pain in fact. He has disturbed his hamstring again and this time it looks like he is not happy with what the physio is trying to do as well. Lo! He is walking back, that's sad..

Fizz Is Back:

Mustafizur, who was rested for the second ODI, is back and with a bang! Poor shot from the man in form though. Latham looked to play across the line and once he missed it, he knew he was a dead duck. Started walking off as soon as he saw the finger going up, didn't bother taking the review, didn't even discuss about it with his partner. Wise call indeed, not a wise shot, I must say.

Welcome Back:

Welcome back for the run-chase. This shouldn't be much of a bother, unless the Kiwis make it so. In between, during the mid-innings interval, the dark clouds have come circling over the Saxton Oval. Not sure if they would open up but one good thing is that the wind is strong and it might blow the clouds away.

Tom Latham and Martin Guptill at the crease.

Innings End:

The Bangladeshis would once again be ruing their missed opportunity, after that promising 102-run opening stand between Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes. Both the openers fell to reckless shots, so did many others in that batting line-up, to ensure that New Zealand came back strongly from a position of no-authority to full control.

There wasn't any extraordinary bowling that triggered the collapse but the tourists failed to apply themselves, resulting in a shambolic collapse. 237 is not a big target to track down but with the wicket slowing down a bit, this could be a bit of a challenge, if not a lot. Join us for the chase in a bit..

Mortaza Departs Now:

Santner strikes for the second time. The idea was right because Mortaza had to go for it as long as it lasted, with the tail around. He looked to go inside out but hit it much straighter, straight down the throat of the long off fielder. Gone, this is a very crucial wicket.

Williamson Strikes:

Poor shot from Haider, as he stretches out to drive but leaves a huge gap between the bat and the pad, the ball turns through the gates to take the stumps down.

Williamson took three in the last game and he has one now. Good time with the ball, not so with the bat yet.

An ODI Wicket After Seven Years:

Jeetan Patel strikes with a not so special delivery. Saikat, who was on strike, shuffled across the stumps a long way and missed it, was hit right on front of the stumps. With the ball not turning much, the umpire has no hesitation in giving that out.

Can you believe it they are six down? Goodness, gracious!!

The Familar B'deshi Downfall:

And another one bites the dust, and this time it is a run out. Gentle dab on the on side for a quick single, Shakib calls for it and sets off quickly, Luke Ronchi out of nowhere, goes charging towards the ball and dives to hurl the ball at the stumps at the non-striker's end.

Direct hit, no intervention from the bowler, and Shakib is just short, short enough to be given out. Poor cricket. Can't believe the way they have imploded so far.

Terrible End For Tamim:

B'desh and responsibility walk apart, as always. Tamim doesn't want to take responsibility, at least that is what that shot at best conveys me. Wanted to dominate over James Neesham but not a mindless slog, please. Goes across the line, gets a big leading edge as Broom takes another good, tumbling catch at the edge of the ring on the off side.

Tamim should be kicking himself up his back, very ordinary cricket after getting a quality fifty.

Williamson To Bowl:

He picked up three wickets in the previous one-dayer, however innocuous he looks, he did all the damage the last time. B'desh would need to be careful, now that they have lost a few quick wickets.

Miserable Times For Mahmudullah:

Truly miserable stuff from one of the vital cogs of Bangladesh's batting wheel. Mahmudullah has been worked out well by the New Zealand think tank. Returns of 0, 1 and 3 for him in this series as he departs again.

Short ball, seemed to hurry onto him as he goes for a pull shot, hits it straight to short mid-wicket. He looked hassled while attempting that and there's the result for some good homework again. New Zealand right back into the contest, although it should Shakib Al Hasan at the crease now with the in-form Tamim.

Henry Has The Last Laugh: Sabbir departs

Two back to back boundaries off short deliveries. He hit them with enormous power to find the fence twice but Henry has got his man, with a better short delivery now to which Sabbir doesn't have an answer.

Very well directed, angled into the body to cramp him for room, Sabbir looks to get out of the way with a fine glance but the ball kept rising on him to take the glove to the keeper. He would be so disappointed with that tame effort. Henry had scored over him in the last over itself. The ploy of bowling short has bore fruits.

Fifty For Tamim:

He's been very calm today, hasn't tried anything out of the ordinary and look at the rewards. More importantly, Tamim should look at the rewards for this approach himself. Raises his 34th ODI fifty and this would be so assuring, for someone who has been in very good form this year, he would want to make this count and cap it off.

Oouchh!!:

Matt Henry has been brought into the side for this reason, to hurry the batsman with his sheer pace. But that must have hurt Sabbir Rahman. Banged in as the ball rises quickly onto the right-hander who looks to defend, misses and is hit right on the centre of his ribs. He is in some pain, ohh ohh, he falls down too.

One just desperately hopes that this is not something very serious. The physio takes a look at him and looks like, he is back up on his feet. That blow though knocked the wind out of him.

Broom Can't Do Any Wrong?:

That is a stellar catch, just unbelievable. But come to think of that shot first. Imrul Kayes had premeditated that shot it seems, skipping out of the crease to hoist it over the top, Santner bowled it quicker, wide of the batsman who never got to the pitch of it. Still went with it, big top edge as the ball went behind square towards third man.

Neil Broom started running back before stretching his right hand out with a big, big dive and takes a beauty. He also ensured that the ball didn't pop out when the elbow hit the ground. Imrul would be disappointed, one rash shot and look what has happened.

Brilliant Beginning:

This is Bangladesh's best start in a long time. 100 up with a boundary, Tamim dabs it fine past the keeper, he tried playing that shot some time back as well, but he has finally got that right.

Both the batsmen looking good for not just their fifties, but a big one, if they don't do anything silly.

Looks Bad?:

Imrul Kayes has jarred his elbow very hard into the ground, it seems. As he tried to get back to the crease with a throw aimed at the non-striker's end, he stretched himself a little too much and landed very badly on his elbow, perhaps his right. Bad slip that.

The umpires have called for the physios to take a look at him. And in the meantime, they will have drinks too. I hope he gets fine, would be such a disappointment if this affects his stay at the crease.

Just Wonder..:

Just wonder if the Bangladesh openers can bat like this, with such freedom and flair, yet so calculated, why can't they be more consistent? This is the same pitch that was used for the second ODI as well.

More in the mind than the pitch. They mess it up there, isn't it? Never late for an inspiring day at the office, even in a dead rubber is fine, should take them a long way.

Welcome, Santner:

The promising left-arm spinner has been brought into the attack now. He has shown a lot of promise this year, his returns of 4 for 11 against India in the World T20 was a sight to behold, especially since it came against a side who play spin well and in conditions they are used to.

Can he do something special and curtail this opening partnership today? We shall see..

By the way, Jeetan Patel is operating from the other end. Spin from both the ends now.

First Six:

That's the freedom with which they should have batted more often this series, they either underplay it or overdo it, hardly you will get to see some balance when the Bangladeshis bat out there.

But that was lovely. Spotted the length ball early, was coming onto the bat nicely as Imrul hoisted it over long on, that kept sailing and the small boundaries in New Zealand help, don't they? But that anyway was very good connection.

Confident Start:

Six boundaries already in the first ten overs from the B'desh openers. Very few chances given by them thus far but more or less, this has been a confident start by both Tamim and Imrul. They have tried to remain positive throughout and that's been the standing highlight in the innings till now.

The Black Caps would know that they need a wicket now, before both batsmen become more and more comfortable.

Just The One Over?:

That's a little too surprising. Jeetan Patel taken off after bowling just the one over. Matt Henry, who is playing his first game of the series, is into the attack now. Wonder what the logic is behind this move? Just checking if the surface has some turn immediately. Maybe..

Ohhhh! Scary Moment:

What is Tamim Iqbal thinking? Tries to squeeze it out behind square on the off side, plays it only a few feet away from the keeper. Sets off for a quick single and rightfully, Imrul Kayes doesn't give his nod. He hustles back as Luke Ronchi fails to hit the stumps direct.

He is lucky to survive but why is he staring at Kayes? Your fault, mate! Just your fault..

First Ball:

Tim Southee takes the new ball and will begin the proceedings for the Black Caps. Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes have come out to open the innings for B'desh, and there would be a lot of pressure riding on them.

Tamim has had a wonderful year but can he cap it off in style? Imrul Kayes batted well in the previous one-dayer but didn't show enough maturity to kick on longer. What's in store today?

One slip in position to boot..

Jeetan Patel, who is making a grand comeback, will share the attack from the other end. Well, New Zealand is the first side who started the trend of opening the bowling attack with an offie. Remember, Dipak Patel in the 1992 World Cup?

Elevens:

Bangladesh (Playing XI): Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Tanveer Haider, Nurul Hasan(w), Mashrafe Mortaza(c), Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed

New Zealand (Playing XI): Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson(c), Neil Broom, James Neesham, Colin Munro, Luke Ronchi(w), Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Jeetan Patel

Team News:

Big news for the B'deshi fans, Mustafizur Rahman is back in the side and he replaces Subashis Roy, who made his debut and opened the bowling the attack along side Mashrafe.

For New Zealand, as expected, Matt Henry comes into the playing eleven. And Jeetan Patel will be seen in New Zealand colours today, back in the ODI side after as many as seven years. That must feel good, very good for the offie.

Toss Time:

The coin goes up for the final time in the ODI series and it is Bangladesh who have won the toss and elected to bat first. Can they put up a winning total on the board? On a wicket that has always been good for batting, can the tourists apply themselves well at the crease? The first few overs shall explain much of their intent.

Team info in a bit. Stay connected..

Quick Recap:

And for those of you who are not aware of how the previous one-dayer panned out and what to expect from this final game, take a quick look at our preview

Build Up:

Bangladesh made a mess out of their previous opportunity in the second ODI at Nelson, a couple of days back and conceded a series win to the hosts. After a spirited bowling performance to disallow the hosts from putting a big total on the board, the tourists threw away a wonderful chance of leveling the series at 1-1 by capitulating, courtesy a few terrible shots.

Now, as they enter the final one-dayer, they would be desperate to end the series and the year on a positive note. Can they salvage some pride or will it be New Zealand all the way with a whitewash? Don't go too far away as we shall find all of that soon. By the way, I'm Shirshendu Roy and will be rolling out all the updates for you throughout the course of the match.