Bangladesh vs New Zealand – T20 Internationals 2026 Match Report | Statz

2nd May 2026

New Zealand beat Bangladesh by 6 wickets (with 20 balls remaining) (DL method) in the 55th match of 91 in the T20 Internationals 2026. Bangladesh were bowled out for 102 in 14.2 overs before the DL method set New Zealand a revised target of 104, which the Black Caps chased down in 11.4 overs to claim a clinical series-levelling victory in Mirpur, Dhaka. New Zealand sit 4th in the ICC T20I rankings (248 rating), while Bangladesh are 9th (224 rating) – with both sides now level on wins in this five-match series heading into the final match.

First Innings: Bangladesh 102/10 (14.2 overs)

Bangladesh were reduced to 35/3 inside five overs and never recovered. Saif Hassan made 16 off 11 at the top before falling caught at 21/1 (over 3.1). Tanzid Hasan followed for 6 off 10 (clean bowled) as Bangladesh slipped to 35/2 (over 4.3), and on the very next ball Parvez Hossain Emon was caught for a duck – back-to-back wickets leaving Bangladesh 35/3 after fewer than five overs.

Litton Das offered some resistance with 26 off 17 (3 fours, 1 six, SR 153) but was caught out at 63/4 (over 8.2). It was left to Towhid Hridoy to provide the main batting substance – 33 off 24 (3 fours, 2 sixes, SR 138) – keeping Bangladesh alive before his dismissal at 88/5 (over 12.1). The lower order offered little. Shamim Hossain (3 off 8), Mohammad Saifuddin (duck), and Rishad Hossain (5 off 4) all went cheaply. Bangladesh were bowled out for 102 in 14.2 overs.

For New Zealand, Josh Clarkson was outstanding with 3/9 off 2 overs (Econ 4.50). Nathan Smith (2/14, Econ 7.00) and Ben Sears (2/12, Econ 5.14 off 2.2) shared the rest of the wickets. Ish Sodhi (1/22, Econ 7.33) and Jayden Lennox (1/28, Econ 9.33) chipped in.

Second Innings: New Zealand 104/4 (11.4 overs) – DL target

New Zealand lost early wickets but it barely mattered. Katene Clarke went for 1 at 10/1 (over 1.2), then Dane Cleaver for 1 at 12/2 (over 1.6). Tim Robinson steadied with 23 off 14 (SR 164) before being clean bowled at 25 (over 3.1). At 33/4 (over 4.6), Nick Kelly departed for 1 off 5.

Enter Bevon Jacobs. The 62 he made off just 31 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes, SR 200) was the innings of the match and utterly decisive. He and Dean Foxcroft (15* off 15) put on an unbroken partnership that carried New Zealand to 104/4 in 11.4 overs. Game done.

Bangladesh's bowlers had no answers. Shoriful Islam (3/19, Econ 6.33) was the only bowler to cause real trouble. Mahedi Hasan (1/20, Econ 6.67) chipped in but Ripon Mondol (0/27, Econ 13.50) and Rishad Hossain (0/31, Econ 11.63) were punished.

Statz MVP: Shoriful Islam (102.44)

Shoriful Islam tops the Statz ratings with a score of 102.44, calculated by Statz based on match context. The Bangladesh left-armer took 3/19 from 3 overs against a New Zealand side chasing a DL target in a pressure situation – and his three wickets came when Bangladesh were trying to defend a modest total. There is no official Man of the Match for this fixture, so there is no disagreement to note.

Top 5 Statz Ratings

  1. Shoriful Islam (Bangladesh) – 102.44 – 3/19 from 3 overs, the pick of the Bangladesh attack in a losing cause
  2. Bevon Jacobs (New Zealand) – 97.85 – 62* off 31 (SR 200) with 5 fours and 3 sixes, match-winning innings
  3. Josh Clarkson (New Zealand) – 74.99 – 3/9 off 2 overs (Econ 4.50), decimated Bangladesh's batting
  4. Towhid Hridoy (Bangladesh) – 52.65 – 33 off 24 (SR 138), Bangladesh's best with the bat
  5. Litton Das (Bangladesh) – 50.27 – 26 off 17 (SR 153), bright but brief contribution

Turning Point

The match turned in over 4 with Bangladesh batting. After Tanzid Hasan was clean bowled at 35/2 (over 4.3, bowler: Ben Sears), Parvez Hossain Emon was out caught next ball at 35/3 (over 4.4). Two wickets for no runs in the same over left Bangladesh three down before five overs were up, and they never built the momentum needed to post a total worth defending.

Match Context

The 55th match of 91 in the T20 Internationals 2026 cycle. New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl – a decision that looked immediately correct as Bangladesh collapsed in the powerplay. This was the third match of a five-match series in Bangladesh, with the previous match (fixture 69606) abandoned without a ball bowled. Bangladesh had won the 1st T20I (fixture 69605). With the series now level at 1-1, the decider in this series comes down to the final match.

Bangladesh sit 9th in the ICC T20I rankings (224 rating, 68 matches). New Zealand are 4th (248 rating, 72 matches). Head-to-head across all T20Is: Bangladesh 5 – New Zealand 7 (plus 2 no results from 14 matches).

Full scorecard: statz.ai/cricket/fixtures/69607/bangladesh-vs-new-zealand/scorecard