New Zealand and Bangladesh meet each other in the third and final ODI of the ongoing series being played between the two teams at the Bir Shreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram on Thursday, April 23. This game has a lot of relevance since the series is currently tied at 1-1 after New Zealand won the first game and Bangladesh came back strongly in the second. Whoever wins this game will end up pocketing the series and, as a reward, bragging rights over their opponents.
New Zealand’s batters let them down in the second match of the series, and this is an aspect they need to work on. As for Bangladesh, the experience they have in their ranks should be more than enough to see them coast comfortably. Moreover, the Bangladeshi players know these conditions well, having played at this venue multiple times in their careers. New Zealand may have a challenging time getting used to the sultry conditions of the subcontinent, but skill-wise, they have not been too far behind their hosts.
Predicted Teams
BAN: Saif Hassan,
Tanzid Hasan Tamim,
Najmul Hossain Shanto,
Litton Das (wk),
Towhid Hridoy,
Soumya Sarkar,
Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c),
Rishad Hossain,
Shoriful Islam,
Taskin Ahmed,
Nahid Rana.
NZ: Henry Nicholls,
Nick Kelly,
Will Young,
Tom Latham (c) (wk),
Muhammad Abbas,
Dean Foxcroft,
Josh Clarkson,
Nathan Smith,
Blair Tickner,
Jayden Lennox,
William O’Rourke.
Key Players
Nahid Rana (BAN): Seamer Nahid Rana displayed his skillset under pressure in the second ODI, returning with five wickets against his name. Rana can bowl at a fairly decent pace and trouble opposition batters with his line and length. Most importantly, he is a hard worker who just does not give up. Rana is a captain’s delight, as Mehidy Hasan Miraz found out in the second game. He can be given the ball at any juncture, with results following soon afterwards.
Nick Kelly (NZ): Opener Nick Kelly scored a gritty 87 in the second ODI, and he will be expected to pick up where he left off. The southpaw is known to take some time before using his feet to good effect. Kelly was also someone who could counter the threat that Rana posed from the home team’s stables. If Kelly is successful in building a big partnership with his teammates at the top of the order, New Zealand will be able to either post or chase a big total. His role will be critical against the new ball.
Match Prediction
New Zealand have a lot of skilful players in their ranks, and we expect them to come back strongly from their defeat in the second ODI. Bangladesh, for their part, know that they cannot allow the Kiwi openers to build a strong partnership. Bangladesh have also been served well by their seamer Nahid Rana, who has stood tall in the heat and hit the right lengths. Nonetheless, the visitors are expected to pick up a victory and pocket the series as well. For them, this game will have a lot of significance as they aim to become dominant in the subcontinent as well.
Bangladesh vs New Zealand – 2nd ODI Overview (21.04.2026)
Bangladesh defeated New Zealand by six wickets in the second ODI of the ongoing series between the two teams at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Monday, April 20. The visiting side batted first in this game but could not muster up a big total. They ended up getting all out for a paltry score of 198, with opener Nick Kelly top-scoring with 87 off 102 deliveries. The southpaw took the help of 14 boundaries in his innings, and found very little support from his teammates. None of the other Kiwi batters in the side could cross the 20-run mark.
Nahid Rana was the most successful bowler for the home team, picking up five wickets while conceding just 32 runs. The seamer was given the ball at one change, and he repaid his captain’s faith by sending the likes of Henry Nicholls and Will Young back to the hut early on. Later in the innings, Rana also accounted for Muhammad Abbas, Dean Foxcroft and Jayden Lennox, completing a well-deserved five-wicket haul. Fellow pacer Shoriful Islam picked up two wickets.
In response, Bangladesh chased the target down in a canter, taking just 35.3 overs in the process. Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim proved why he is so reliable with a 58-ball 76, which included 10 boundaries and four sixes. He also found support in the form of his former skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, who struck an even 50 that came off 71 balls and involved seven boundaries and two sixes. Middle-order batter Towhid Hridoy remained unbeaten on 30 to see his team home comfortably with more than 14 overs in hand.
