Heavy rain and thunderstorms swept through the port city of Chattogram on Wednesday, April 29, wiping out the second T20I between Bangladesh and New Zealand without a single delivery being bowled. The covers never left the pitch all day. Both teams arrived at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in the afternoon and some players used the indoor facilities for net practice, but the persistent rain and gusting winds made outdoor cricket impossible. Officials called the match off at 4.15pm local time, a full hour before the official cutoff for a five-over contest, with parts of the city experiencing flooding due to the sustained downpour over several days.

The washout means Bangladesh head into the third and final T20I holding a 1-0 series lead, having won the opener in Chattogram on April 27 by six wickets. In that match, New Zealand posted 182 for 6 thanks to half-centuries from openers Katene Clarke and Dane Cleaver, before Bangladesh produced their highest-ever successful T20I home chase, reaching the target with two overs remaining. Towhid Hridoy was the match-winning performer, scoring an unbeaten 51 off 27 balls after Bangladesh had wobbled at 77 for 3 in ten overs. Shamim Hossain provided the finishing touch alongside Hridoy, and the victory was one of the most celebrated performances by the Bangladesh T20I side in recent memory.

For New Zealand, the washout means they must now win the final T20I in Dhaka on May 2 to avoid a series loss. Their concern from the first game was the bowling unit, which lost control under pressure once Bangladesh's chase accelerated in the second half of the innings. Their touring squad, which includes some young players and a few regulars rested ahead of a busy domestic schedule, will need a significantly improved performance at Shere Bangla National Stadium to level the contest. The batting showed promise, with Clarke and Cleaver making a strong platform, but the absence of some key regulars has made New Zealand's attack look thin.

Bangladesh have been building real confidence in limited-overs cricket through this home season. They already won the ODI series, taking the final two games after losing the opener. A T20I series victory over New Zealand would add further substance to the argument that the current Bangladesh squad is the most competitive version of the team that has ever taken the field. The third T20I in Dhaka on May 2 will be a straight final, and Bangladesh's home record at Shere Bangla in recent years gives them the advantage going in.

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