Sports

New Zealand claim series sweep over Bangladesh

New Zealand wrapped up a second consecutive 3-0 limited-overs sweep over Bangladesh at Bay Oval on Sunday.Having already taken the ODI series, New Zealand backed that with a 27-run victory in the third and final T20 international on a warm but blustery day.Left to chase an unlikely 195 for their first win ever in New Zealand, Bangladesh gave themselves a chance by racing to 69 in the first six overs and at the halfway point were 34 runs to the good.However the boundaries dried up, with none in a seven-over period and Bangladesh finished at 167 for six. New Zealand had been in difficulties early, at 41 for three, but captain Kane Williamson and big-hitting Corey Anderson shared a record-setting 124-run stand for the fourth wicket in 72 balls.Williamson, although not as his fluent best, made 60 off 57 balls, profiting from two dropped catches at 53 and 58, both off luckless captain Mashrafe Mortaza.Anderson bludgeoned his way to 94 not out, from only 41 balls. He fell six short of becoming the fourth New Zealander to make a T20 international century, after Brendon McCullum (twice), Martin Guptill and Colin Munro, who achieved the feat on Friday.Anderson hit 10 sixes, the equal fourth most in a T20 international innings and would have given the fastest hundred mark, 45 balls by South African Richard Levi at Hamilton in 2012, a real shake if he hadn`t run out of balls.Bangladesh bowled and fielded well early, and began their chase impressively but fell apart when the heat went on.New Zealand used a third opener to partner Williamson, after Neil Broom and Luke Ronchi had both found the role jinxed and cried off after one game with injury.