The touring New Zealand camp are looking at the final match of their stay in Bangladesh – today’s Twenty20 International – as a chance to leave with a series win, according to Black Caps pace bowler Tim Southee. ‘Obviously the one-day series was disappointing. This is a new series and a chance to go home with a series win in the Twenty20,’ Southee said after Tuesday’s practice at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
‘We’re back here in a few months time with the Twenty20 World Cup, so it’s a good chance to gain some experience with the conditions that we’re going to be faced [with] in a few months time,’ added New Zealand’s 24-year-old premier pace bowler, who missed the Test series due to injury but came back to take three wickets in the first ODI.
Southee did not, however, buy into the idea that the format was New Zealand’s strongest, citing recent results and team construction as evidence of New Zealand’s ODI strength despite the latest setback against Bangladesh.
‘I think we’re pretty comfortable in all forms. We’ve done well in one-day series up until this one just gone,’ he said, referring to recent away-series wins against powerhouses England and South Africa.
‘Obviously we’re disappointed with how the one-day series went, but there’s a lot of talented players in that group, and young players mixed with a few experienced guys, and the young guys are always learning and pushing their cases forward.’
‘I think you look at the balance of the side; we bat very deep, we’ve got power – a lot of the guys can clear the fence so hopefully we can do that tomorrow [Wednesday] – and we’ve got a good mix of slow bowlers mixed in with some experience and some exciting younger seamers.’
Recent results in Twenty20 Internationals would indicate that New Zealand go into the one-off match as the favourites, with all eight of their wins since the beginning of 2012 coming against Test-playing nations.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, have just five victories in that time frame, with three coming against Ireland and one apiece against the Netherlands and Zimbabwe. They also have embarrassing losses to the Netherlands and Scotland on their record during that period.
Southee sidestepped a question about the Tigers’ T20 record but did reiterate his side’s intentions going into the match today.
‘We’re looking at a series win. The one-dayers are gone, we’re disappointed. We want to leave here with something and we’re looking to win the Twenty20 series and obviously that’s just the one game tomorrow [Wednesday].’
-With New Age input
