New Zealand vs Bangladesh: Henry Nicholls to bat at number three in the final ODI

New Zealand fast shed the baggage of their 1-4 loss to India in the last ODI series at home to beat Bangladesh in a three-game series. The Black Caps thrashed the Asian side in the first two games – both by 8 wickets respectively – with opener Martin Guptill belting centuries on both occasions. The two teams will meet for the third and final ODI in Dunedin on February 20.

The home team will change their batting order as the opener Henry Nicholls is set to bat in yet another position in the third match on Wednesday. The Canterbury batsman has been batting at No.6 as well as in the opening slot throughout this New Zealand summer and is now set to bat at No.3 position after the return of Colin Munro as the skipper Kane Williamson is rested for the dead rubber.

Munro’s final chance to make it to WC squad

Munro has not been in great touch and the dead game against Bangladesh will be significant for him to make use of the last opportunity before the final squad of the upcoming World Cup is picked. He managed one fifty in a T20I against India in the recently concluded twin home series and he will be back to opening with Guptill with Henry Nicholls dropping a spot down.

New Zealand’s interim batting coach Heinrich Malan said on Radio Sport Breakfast that the hosts will have a little change in their batting approach. “It’s another great opportunity for someone like Henry to expand his range of batting in those top six positions and doing a great job as he’s been doing,” Malan said, adding the batters will focus on setting up a strong platform in the first 35 overs before going for the kill in the last 15.

Malan said New Zealand did well in sticking to their blueprint in the first two matches and will look to do the same in the concluding game.

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