Bangladesh tours of New Zealand & Sri Lanka review.

It seemed that instead of a complete tour, Bangladesh played several small series over the last few months. The Tigers played 3-match ODI & T20I series in New Zealand, then a 2-match Test series in Sri Lanka, followed by 3 ODIs at home against the same opposition.

The last couple of months can be summed up with a disappointment for Bangladesh but some positive news at the end for the currently #1 ranked team in the ODI Super League. Good finds by the Kiwis and Lankans as well.

Also Read: Ross Taylor’s Fan Tribute, West Indies tour of Bangladesh Review, Australia Vs New Zealand Series Review

Bangladesh Tours of New Zealand & Sri Lanka – The Results

NZ-Ban ODI Series: New Zealand won 3-0

* Player of Match

1. New Zealand won by 8 wickets *Trent Boult
   • Video Highlights
2. New Zealand won by 5 wickets *Tom Latham
   • Video Highlights
3. New Zealand won by 164 runs *Devon Conway
   • Video Highlights

Player of Series	New Zealand Devon Conway	Bangladesh
Most Runs	Devon Conway – 225 runs (best of 126, 75 average, 88.23 SR, 100s-1, 50s-1)	Mahmudullah – 119 runs (best of 76*, 59.50 average, 82.06 SR, 50s-1)
Most Wickets	Jimmy Neesham – 7 wickets (best of 5/27, 18.14 average, 5.14 economy)	Rubel Hossain – 3 wickets (best of 3/70, 23.33 average, 7.00 economy)

NZ-Ban T20I Series: New Zealand won 3-0

1. New Zealand won by 66 runs *Devon Conway
   • Video Highlights
2. New Zealand won by 28 runs (D/L method) *Glenn Phillips
   • Video Highlights
3. New Zealand won by 65 runs *Finn Allen
   • Video Highlights

Player of Series	New Zealand Glenn Phillips	Bangladesh
Most Runs	Devon Conway – 107 runs (best of 92*, 107 average, SR 175.40)	Mohammad Naim – 84 runs (best of 38, 28 average, 127.27 SR)
Most Wickets	Tim Southee – 6 wickets (best of 3/15, 11.66 average, 7.00 economy)	Mahedi Hasan – 4 wickets (best of 2/45, 29.00 average, 11.60 economy)

SL-Ban Test Series: Sri Lanka won 1-0

1. Match Drawn *Dimuth Karunaratne
   • Video Highlights
2. Sri Lanka won by 209 runs *Praveen Jayawickrama
   • Video Highlights

Player of Series	Sri Lanka Dimuth Karunaratne	Bangladesh
Most Runs	Dimuth Karunaratne – 428 runs (best of 244, 142.66 average, 100s-2, 50s-1)	Tamim Iqbal – 280 runs (best of 92, average 93.33, 50s-3)
Most Wickets	Praveen Jayawickrama – 11 wickets (Best Innings – 6/92, Best Match – 11/178, average 16.18)	Taskin Ahmed – 8 wickets (Best Innings 4/127, Best Match – 5/133, average 33.12)

Ban-SL ODI Series: Bangladesh won 2-1

1. Bangladesh won by 33 runs*Mushfiqur Rahim
2. Bangladesh won by 103 runs (D/L method)*Mushfiqur Rahim
3. Sri Lanka won by 97 runs*Dushmantha Chameera

Player of Series	Bangladesh Mushfiqur Rahim	Sri Lanka
Most Runs	Mushfiqur Rahim – 237 runs (best of 125, 79.00 average, 88.43 SR, 1-100, 1-50)	Kusal Perera – 164 runs (best of 120, 54.66 average, 87.70 SR, 1-100)
Most Wickets	Mehidy Hasan Miraz – 7 wickets (best of 3/16, 16.16 average, 3.88 economy)	Dushmantha Chameera – 9 wickets (best of 5/16, 1100 average, 3.78 economy)

Major Moments

There were numerous moments in this Bangladesh tours of New Zealand & Sri Lanka. Here are the major takeaways.

New Zealand

Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, & Daryl Mitchell solidified their places during this tour

• After his Test ton against Pakistan, Mitchell scored 100* (92) in the 3rd ODI, pushing New Zealand to 318/6. Quickfire 34* (16) in the rain-curtailed 2nd T20I as well. It is a shame that he is not a regular due to the rich presence of Colin de Grandhomme & Mitchell Santner.
• Devon Conway has now conquered Test cricket with a double century at Lord’s, but before that his debut ODI series against Bangladesh included a fifty and a maiden century—126 in the 3rd ODI. Highest scorer in both the ODI & T20I series and donned the gloves as well.
• Glenn Phillips finished the first T20I with a blistering 24* (10) along with a 58* (23) in the 2nd T20I, rescuing NZ from 55-3 in 6.1 overs to 173/5 in 17.5 overs.

New Zealand are now unearthing fast bowlers & youngsters at an alarming rate. Tim Seifert, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Blundell & Devon Conway have all performed in the past season, and the Kiwis can now add Finn Allen & Will Young to that list after the T20I series.

• Prior to the T20I series, Will Young had a total of 60 runs in 2 Tests & 2 ODIs. He announced himself with 53 (30) with four sixes in the first T20I to cement his place in the T20I squad for the near future.
• Finn Allen’s blistering 71* (29) was an innings of a lifetime. 10 fours, 3 sixes, and an 85 run partnership with Martin Guptill in just 5.4 overs. The Kiwis ended with 141/4 in a ten-over game. Bangladesh?—76 all out.

The return of Martin Guptill & Tim Southee

In Williamson’s absence, Latham captained the ODI series while Tim Southee took the T20I reigns. Latham justified his selection with a match winning 110* (108) in a successful 272 run-chase.

• With youngsters knocking on the doors, several questions on the seniors. Ross Taylor is already out of the T20I squad with the influx of talent, and Guptill & Southee were under the scanner.
• After the successful Australia series, Guptill responded with scores of 38, 20, 26, 35, 21, & 44 in this series. Does not look ultra-impressive but strike rates of 200.00, 83.33, 92.85, 129.62, 116.66, & 231.57 were exactly the kind of starts New Zealand expect from Guptill. Needs to convert soon though.
• Southee’s 3/15 in the 3rd T20I removed any hope for Bangladesh’s chase. Ended as the highest wicket-taker in the T20I series and now performing in the England Tests. 2nd wind for the 32 year old?

Anyway, these were just the major moments. Comeback for Adam Milne along with good outings for Jimmy Neesham, Todd Astle (4/13), Ish Sodhi (4/28), Matt Henry (4/27), Lockie Ferguson.

Bangladesh

Batting, Youngsters, & Overseas Victories a Concern For Bangladesh

• From March 20th to May 23rd, Bangladesh lost 6 consecutive matches in New Zealand & lost the Test series 0-1 in Sri Lanka. Over the two Tests, Bangladesh were on the field for 4-5 days, which contributed to mental fatigue. These overseas series really hurt Bangladesh’s confidence, and even though they finally won the home ODI series that followed, they did not play well according to captain Tamim Iqbal.
• Apart from the 2nd ODI & 2nd T20I against NZ, Bangladesh’s score read 131/10 (41.5), 154/10 in 42.4 (after being 8/102), 6/59 (7.5), & 76/10 (9.3). In the Sri Lanka ODI series, Rahim-Mahmudlluah rescued Bangaldesh from 99/4 (22.6), 74/4 (15.4), and 84/4 in 23.2 (en route 189/10). Top order issues galore.
• 19,0, 21, 0, 4, 6,0, 0, 25 read Liton Das’ limited overs scores – 4 ducks. Test scores of 50, 8 & 17 not much better. I really hope Liton Das has a Rohit Sharma-esque 2013 resurrection given his immense talent. Six years since his debut, Das averages 20.83 (T20I), 28.78 (ODI), & 28.35 (Tests) in 117 innings. Only 3 centuries and 15 fifties. Cannot depend on Tamim Iqbal forever, especially with Mohammad Naim & Soumya Sarkar blowing hot and cold.

The M Factor & Absence of Shakib Al Hasan Felt Dearly

• Although Shakib Al Hasan returned in the Sri Lanka ODI series, he was sorely missed in the New Zealand leg. In the spin bowling department, there were brief sparks, but not much else, from Nasum Ahmed & name twins—Mahedi Hasan & Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who bowled in tandem. Lacking in control & consistency.
• At one point, Sri Lanka used to have the M Factor. In the Sri Lanka ODI series, Bangladesh unleashed the M Factor of their own—Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim, & Mustafizur Rahman.
  • Opening the bowling, Mehidy’s miserly 4/30 & 3/28 were match-winning spells. Bodes well if 2023 World Cup in India has these slow pitches.
  • Although not back at his best yet, Mustafizur Rahman is slowly getting there (see Jarrod Kimber’s analysis here). His slow off-cutters are back and his 6-1-16-3 in the 2nd ODI was especially good (to go with 9-0-34-3 in first ODI).
  • Highest run-scorer at #4 since the 2015 World Cup, Mushfiqur Rahim has to be one of the most underrated players of this era. This series showed exactly why with his 84 (87) & 125 (127) sealing the deal for Bangladesh.
  • Mahmudullah was the only saving grace in NZ with a 76* in the final ODI. Followed it up with 54, 41, 53 in the SL series. Mushfiqur-Mahmudullah emerging as legendary lower order ODI rescue partners.

Still Some Positives For the Tigers

• Captains Tamim Iqbal & Mominul Haque provide consistency. Looks like the split captaincy is working. Adding to Najmul Hossain Shanto’s 163, Mominul scored a defiant ton in Sri Lanka, while Tamim has a few 50s (92 & 90 in SL Tests) on these two tours. Only if the team starts winning now…
• It looked like Bangladesh had turned a corner in the 2015 World Cup with a pace attack of Mashrafe Mortaza, Rubel Hossain, & Taskin Ahmed. Taskin’s decline was heartbreaking but he is back among the wickets with 8 wickets in the Test series. With decent find in 20-year old Shoriful Islam, a lineup of Mustafizur-Mehidy-Taskin-Saifuddin-Shoriful-Shakib might be exactly what the Tigers need.

Sri Lanka

• Sri Lanka are rocking some young left-arm spinners. Embuldeniya earlier this year and now Praveen Jayawickrama with a 11-wicket haul on debut. This included two 5-fers, 6/92 & 5/86 as Sri Lanka won the Test series.
• Karunatarane (244, 118, 66) Thirimanne (58, 140), Dhananjaya de Silva (166, 41), Niroshan Dickwella (31, 77*) had dream batting days that took Sri Lanka to scores of 684/8d, 493/7d, 194/9d. They did not get bowled out even once.
• Dusmantha Chameera has one of Sri Lanka’s bright stars amidst their downfall. He improved over the course of thh ODI series with figures of 1/39, 3/44, and a match-winning spell of 9-1-16-5. Winning hand by new-ODI captain Kusal Perera in the final ODI as well – 120 (122).
• Thisara Perera, star of the 2014 T20 WC final victory unexpectedly announced his retirement at the age of 32, having played seven world cups for Sri Lanka.

Squad Predictions for T20I World Cup

Here are my early squad predictions for the 23-member T20I World Cup Squad based on the NZ-Ban T20I series. Kane Williamson’s spot in danger?

New Zealand

1. Martin Guptill, 2. Tim Seifert (WK), 3. Kane Williamson*, 4. Devon Conway, 5. Glenn Phillips, 6. Colin de Grandhomme, 7. Mitchell Santner, 8. Tim Southee, 9. Trent Boult, 10. Lockie Ferguson, 11. Ish Sodhi

Squad: 12. Finn Allen, 13. Will Young, 14. Jimmy Neesham, 15. Daryl Mitchell, 16. Kyle Jamieson, 17. Todd Astle, 18. Hamish Bennett, 19. Blair Tickner, 20. Jacob Duffy, 21. Mark Chapman, 22. Ross Taylor, 23. Doug Bracewell/Scott Kuggeleijn

*captain

Bangladesh

1. Tamim Iqbal, 2. Liton Das, 3. Soumya Sarkar, 4. Mushfiqur Rahim (WK), Shakib Al Hasan, 6. Mahmudullah, 7. Afif Hossain, 8. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9. Mohammad Saifuddin, 10. Mustafizur Rahman, 11. Taskin Ahmed

Squad: 12. Mohammad Naim, 13. Najmul Hossain Shanto, 14. Mosaddek Hossain, 15. Mahedi Hasan, 16. Nasum Ahmed, 17. Shoriful Islam, 18. Rubel Hossain, 19. Mohammad Mithun, 20. Al-Amin Hossain, 21. Hasan Mahmud, 22. Abu Haider, 23. Sabbir Rahman

Awards

Here are the awards for Bangladesh Tours of New Zealand & Sri Lanka.

	Bangladesh	New Zealand	Sri Lanka
Emerging Player	Mahedi Hasan	Finn Allen	Praveen Jayawickrama
Surprise Package	Taskin Ahmed in Sri Lanka	Daryl Mitchell, Will Young	Dimuth Karunaratne
Broken Cricket Dream	Bangladesh cricket on a downfall?	BJ Watling to retire; Ross Taylor’s retirement on the way?	Flat Road Pitches in the first Test Thisara Perera retires

Where Do They Go From Here?

Although Bangladesh had a tough two months, they are sitting at the top of the ODI Super League Table with 5 wins from 9 matches. New Zealand are on #5 (3/3) and Sri Lanka are struggling at #13 (1/6). Bangladesh have no upcoming series for a while.

New Zealand are currently in England for 2 Tests & World Test Championship final. Apart from the forthcoming T20 leagues, the Kiwis have no assignments till the T20 World Cup in October-November. After the World Cup, New Zealand has a short limited overs tour of Australia in January 2022.

Sri Lanka travel to England for 3 T20Is & 3 ODIs in June followed by a home series against India for 3 ODIs & 3 T20Is in July. Later in February Sri Lanka will follow NZ’s suit and travel to Australia for 5 T20Is.

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Copyright (2021: 6/8/2021)– @Nitesh Mathur, aka Nit-X – bcd@brokokencricketdreams.com