Tim Southee played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s 88-run win over Bangladesh at the University Oval to help secure a 3-0 whitewash and earn Wednesday’s Turbo Bowler accolade, writes ANITHA MADIKIZELA.
The Black Caps’ veteran swing bowler picked up a rampaging 6-65 from his 9.2 overs in Dunedin during the final fixture of the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh. His heroics helped the home side secure a confidence-boosting whitewash over the Tigers with the World Cup just around the corner.
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After being inserted into bat first, the Kiwi’s posted 330-6 off their allotted overs, thanks to half-centuries from Henry Nicholls (64 off 74 balls, 7×4), Tom Latham (59 off 51 balls, 2×4, 3×6) as well as top-scorer Ross Taylor (69 off 82 balls, 7×4). Taylor became New Zealand’s leading run-scorer in ODI cricket during his innings.
Ross Taylor is now New Zealand's highest run-scorer in ODIs ? https://t.co/C12d3bpPqn #record #NZvBAN pic.twitter.com/O6xWTRBaOv
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 20, 2019
Southee crippled the Bangladeshi chase by picking up two wickets in the first over of the second innings, dismissing the destructive Tamim Iqbal as well as danger man Soumya Sarkar, both for two-ball ducks. The visitors had no answer for the Southee onslaught as opener Liton Das (1 off 4 balls) fell soon after, to leave Bangladesh struggling after losing three wickets with just two runs on the board.
Hear from Tim Southee ? following his Player of the Match performance in ODI 3 at University of Otago Oval #NZvBAN pic.twitter.com/DKZsUrDq2P
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 20, 2019
Southee added captain Mashrafe Mortaza and off-spinner Mehidy Hasan to his list of victims before being involved in the run-out of Rubel Hossain in the 48th over to reduce Bangladesh to 242-9, still needing a further 89 runs to win off 17 balls with one wicket in hand.
Fittingly, it was Southee who wrapped up the innings with the very next ball by bagging a simple return catch to dismiss Bangladesh’s top-scorer and centurion, Sabbir Rahman, for a well-fought 102 off 110 balls that included 12 fours and two towering sixes. Southee’s match-winning performance earned him the Player of the Match award as New Zealand walked away with a convincing whitewash over the visitors.
NEW ZEALAND SWEEP SERIES 3-0
A brilliant 6/65 for Tim Southee, to go with a run-out. The paceman wraps up the Bangladesh innings, and New Zealand win the final ODI by 88 runs.#NZvBAN SCORECARD ⬇️https://t.co/crmF5y8m8H pic.twitter.com/BAzNYNBUQS
— ICC (@ICC) February 20, 2019
Bangladesh will hope to mount a response in the upcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand, with the first Test scheduled to take place in Hamilton from 28 February.
Photo: Dianne Manson/Getty Images
