DHAKA, Sep 10: New Zealand saved their best batting display for the last game as they revelled in the leniency showed by Shere Bangla National Stadium curator Gamini Silva.
On a pitch much more conducive for strokeplay, they piled up 161 for 5 and beat Bangladesh by 27 runs.
Tom Latham struck his second fifty of the series and Finn Allen played a telling innings as well.
His 41 off 24 balls gave the visitors the perfect start after they decided to bat first for the fourth time in the series.
Bangladesh were, predictably, off colour, having chosen only three specialist bowlers in the XI, leaving nine overs in the care of part-timers. Shoriful Islam, playing for the first time in the series, took two wickets but looked rusty.
Chasing 162, Bangladesh made a poor start, leaving too much for the middle-order to do in the last ten overs. Afif Hossain blazed briefly to make an unbeaten 49, but ran out of partners.
Ajaz Patel, once again, led the way with 2 for 21 from his four overs, but it was how New Zealand batted that made most of the difference.
Bangladesh won the T20I series 3-2. (Agencies)
