Frustrated Bangladesh desperate to avoid ODI series whitewash against New Zealand

Having suffered bitter losses in the first two ODIs, winning the third has become not only a matter of salvaging some pride for Bangladesh but also a fight to avert a whitewash by New Zealand.

The Tigers are still licking their wounds from Thursday’s 67-run defeat. Even on Friday, a day before the third ODI, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was left muttering, “What a missed opportunity!”

“The series could have been different had we won yesterday. Today would’ve been different. I also had a plan..,” the captain rued.

Chasing 252 to win, they had cruised to 105 for 1 before a dramatic collapse saw them lose nine wickets for 79 runs at Saxton Oval. The defeat, preceded by a 77-run loss in the first match, meant the series has been taken by the hosts.

There was no practice the day before the last match for either team. The Bangladesh players spent the morning at their hotel. The team took a trip to the National Park in the afternoon to freshen up as advised by Coach Chandika Hathurusingha.

But Mashrafe, Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim stayed back.

The 33-year-old skipper conceded that producing something good in the last ODI would not be easy.

“Everyone was hoping we’d win the match. The way we lost after a good start may still be playing in the boys’ minds. The truth is the task will be difficult in the last match.”

New Zealand were whitewashed in their last two series in Bangladesh. The tables have turned this time.

Mashrafe hopes to find some solace by avoiding a clean sweep on their first overseas tour after more than two years.

“Creating the opportunity to win in New Zealand conditions during an overseas tour after a long time should be taken as a positive too,” he said.

So, Bangladesh will face the biggest test of character and fortitude on Saturday.

The wicket and conditions in Nelson pose little threat for the Tigers. Rather, the wicket is quite slow which has prompted New Zealand to recall offspinner Jeetan Patel from his seven-year ODI hiatus.

Bangladesh will get their pace ace Mustafizur back after resting him in the second ODI. He can exploit any amount of grip from the wicket.

The Tigers must now slay their demons, or else, another whitewash on foreign soil is on the cards.