DHAKA, —New Zealand stand-in head coach Glenn Pocknall believes his side will come all guns blazing in a bid to level the five-match T20 International series against Bangladesh, emboldened by their thumping 52-run win in the last match.
Following their seven-wicket after being bowled out for their joint lowest total T20Is score of 60 and four-run defeat, New Zealand turned the table in emphatic fashion, winning the third game by bowling out Bangladesh for their second lowest total of 76. The 76 was also Bangladesh’s lowest total in this format at home.
“We’ve got a lot to play for which is great. We’re in with a sniff so we’ve got a lot to play for tomorrow and make it 2-all and we’ll see what happens in the final game. The guys are up for it, which is great,” Pocknall said during a virtual press conference today.
“It was a pretty special feeling just because the guys have been working so hard and having such good conversations around the way we want to play the game. So, to execute all the things that we’ve spoken about was so pleasing and so proud of the guys to do what they did the other night because it’s a challenging place to play. These guys have shown that if you put everything together, then anything is possible. That’s exciting, moving forward,” said Pocknall, for whom the 52-run win was first victory as coach.
He credited the 66-run partnership between Henry Nicholls and Tom Blundell who helped the side post a good total on a slow surface after the side was reduced to 62-5.
“It’s almost like the middle overs of a 50-over game if you are picking up three-four an over with minimal risk and creating a partnership, which is giving you a little bit of time at the end. They executed that perfectly, so two inexperienced guys at this level in this format, but they’ve played a lot of cricket in other formats both for New Zealand and domestically, so that experience shone through,” he added.
He also said that beating Bangladesh at their own den is something that is morale boosting for them.
“They’ve had a fantastic record not just against us but also against every other team in the world [at home]. So, for them to lose, they’ll come back pretty strong and they’ll be hurting from that. We’re certainly prepared for a backlash from them , but we’re going to fight fire with fire, so to speak, and we’re certainly up for it as well.”
