Bangladesh vs New Zealand is not just another international match. The mighty New Zealand will be coming out to face Bangladesh in the third T20I at Shere Bangla National Stadium with the series on the line.

Bangladesh are currently leading the three-match series 1-0 and are just one victory away from sealing the series at home.

BAN vs NZ match preview

New Zealand, who are fielding a very young side without most of their established T20 stars, have still shown promise. Led by Nick Kelly, their batters including Katene Clarke and Dane Cleaver put up a solid show in the first game.

However, their bowling turned out to be a major concern. Ben Lister, the left-arm pacer, was the only one who impressed, while the rest of the attack went for plenty and struggled to contain runs. That eventually led to a heavy defeat.

On the other hand, Bangladesh looked clinical in their last outing. Led by the experienced Litton Das, they appeared the more settled side against a relatively inexperienced opposition. Towhid Hridoy was impressive with the bat, and there were useful contributions from others as well.

In the bowling department, Rishad Hossain has shown great skill in recent times. Along with support from the pace unit, Bangladesh managed to keep things tight and controlled the game well. Their overall balance and recent performances have been a talking point in cricket news recently.

BAN vs NZ head-to-head T20I record

Matches Played: 22
Bangladesh won: 5
New Zealand won: 15
No Result: 2

BAN vs NZ key players to watch

Katelyn Clarke – The youngster scored a composed 51 at the top in the previous match. He looks like a bright prospect for New Zealand and could play a key role again.

Litton Das – With over 2600 T20I runs, Litton has been one of Bangladesh’s most reliable batsmen over the years. His experience and ability to anchor the innings make him crucial in a pressure game.

BAN vs NZ playing XI

Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Saif Hassan, Litton Das (wk/c), Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Shoriful Islam, Ripon Mondol

New Zealand: Tim Robinson, Katene Clarke, Dane Cleaver (wk), Nick Kelly (c), Bevon Jacobs, Dean Foxcroft, Josh Clarkson, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi, Matthew Fisher, Ben Lister

BAN vs NZ match prediction

New Zealand are clearly testing their raw talent in this series, with several of their regular players busy in leagues around the world. For many of these youngsters, this is their first major international exposure.

With that said, they have shown enough promise to suggest they can bounce back and challenge Bangladesh, much like they did in patches during the ODI series.

However, Bangladesh have a strong advantage playing at home. They also carry momentum from their recent ODI series win and now lead this T20I series as well. Their experience and familiarity with conditions give them the upper hand.

Prediction: Bangladesh to win the match