Allrounder Amelia Kerr has again rescued New Zealand from potential embarrassment, guiding them to a series-sweeping T20 victory over Bangladesh at Queenstown.
The White Ferns ulitmately completed a 62-run walkover, winning all three of their 20-over encounters against the tourists, who are still developing their international women's programme.
But batting first, their top order was again exposed by tight bowling and much-improved fielding that reduced the home side to 98/5 in the 16th over, before Kerr - as she did in the second match at Dunedin - steadied the ship.
She compiled an unbeaten 48, including five boundaries, and built valuable partnerships with Lea Tahuhu (29 runs off 14 balls) and sister Jess Kerr (25 runs off 10 balls), propelling the NZ women to 152/7 off their allocated overs.
Bangladesh have not challenged that run rate so far this tour and again could not generate enough momentum with the bat to score that many runs, losing regular wickets and finishing their 20 overs at 89/7.
Tahuhu, hit two sixes with the bat in a whirlwind 17 off eight balls, starred with the ball, taking the top three batters to decapitate the Bangladeshi order with 3/13 and taking Player of the Series honours.
"With the bat, the way we finished, with Melie being the anchor at the end, and players like Lea Jess coming in to finish with a real flourish... ideally, we'd like to start that flurry a little earlier," reflected captain Sophie Devine.
"We've spoken about 160 this series and we got close again today, but if we're being hard on ourselves, we probably missed a trick through the middle phase.
"With the ball, Lea Tahuhu has been outstanding, picking up wickets for fun. Great to see her firing on all cylinders and now it's about the rest of us trying to keep up with her."
New Zealand and Bangladesh now regroup for their one-day series, beginning at Wellington on Sunday.
New Zealand 152/7 (Kerr 48no, Devine 47; Trisna 1/19) Bangladesh 89/7 (Ahmed 25, Khatun 23no; Tahuhu 3/13)
New Zealand win by 63 runs
