New Zealand vs Bangladesh, 3rd T20I at Mount Maunganui, NZ v BDESH, Dec 31 2023 - Ball by Ball Commentary

4:30pm Santner and Shanto pose together with the trophy at the end of a hard-fought series that, truth be told, deserved a lot more cricket than we ultimately got. Nevertheless, both teams will be happy with how they responded to pressure, and may have ticked off certain things off their bucket list too.

It has been a pleasure bringing all the action to you from this white-ball tour. Hope you enjoyed it as much as we loved covering it. Until next time, this is me (Shashwat) signing off on behalf of Vairavan and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Goodbye and take care!

Najmul Hossain Shanto, Bangladesh captain: Our bowlers did a great job but the batters did not get runs today. All the bowlers bowled really well. In T20s, the start is very important. We got starts today but we could not take the game deep - that is the mistake we made.

Mitchell Santner, the New Zealand captain is also the Player of the Match: (On his bowling) It was nice to win. I was just thinking of changing the pace and getting bounce. The seamers bowled extremely well too. (On if the early wickets help) It does, for sure. We knew the powerplay was key. Not easy to bowl in the powerplay and we did well to pick up wickets. I could come in after that and float some up. (On bowling first) We always knew there was going to be rain. The bowlers did the job up front and good to get across the line. Tough series overall.

Shoriful Islam is the Player of the Series.

4:20pm A damp end to the 2023 cricketing calendar for both of these sides. Bangladesh gave it a real rattle at the start of the second innings, reducing New Zealand to 49-5. The Black Caps, though, courtesy of Neesham and Santner, did just enough to put the game beyond doubt, with their 37-ball 46-run partnership proving pivotal. Neesham, in particular, took his chances well and helped NZ race ahead on the DLS par score.

Plenty of positives to take for Bangladesh. Their batting did not quite light up the series, but their bowling looked penetrative throughout. Shoriful was superb, as was Mahedi. Mustafizur also looked close to his best, and Shanto, barring the odd blip, led the team brilliantly. These performances would have pleased the team management and the Bangladesh fans. They did not quite get the fairy tale ending they craved, in terms of a series win, but a drawn series is testament to how much pressure they have put on New Zealand.

Speaking of the Kiwis, their top order looked shaky every time they batted. They were rescued, largely by Neesham, but that is definitely something they will hope to rectify moving forward. The bowling, on the other hand, looked sharp, with both Milne and Sears doing their reputation no harm. Santner was his dependable self throughout, and NZ have enough to work with moving into next year's T20 World Cup.

4:18pm It is official, folks. The game has been called off. New Zealand win by 17 runs (DLS), and level the series.

Muzahid: "You see, captaincy indeed is a double edged blade.. Shanto brought himself to negate two lefties in the crease.. Would've been a perfect gamble had it paid off.. Now, that over might prove to be the game changing one" -- Credit, I feel, must also be given to Neesham who took his chance. Shanto did not bowl bad balls, Neesham was just ready and better.

3:59pm The umpires are having a chat, and the players are indeed going off. NZ, though, are well ahead on DLS, with the par score being 78 at this stage. Looks like a heavy bout of rain, and the ground staff have sprung into action to cover the pitch and the square.

This was the downpour everyone was worried about, and it has finally come. The good thing is we will have a result, even if the players cannot quite get back on the park. In fact, it is pelting down at the Bay Oval now, and is being accompanied by lightning and thunder.

A few spots of rain, and some people situated on the grass banks are beginning to take cover

Just 20 needed now. Seems like NZ have emerged from the muddle they found themselves in not long ago. Here is Shoriful, perhaps Bangladesh's last roll of the dice...

Rishad returns

NZ currently ahead on DLS, and this partnership has calmed a few nerves. 36 needed off 48