Visiting New Zealand are chasing 266 runs in the third and final one-dayer against Bangladesh to seal the series.

The Kiwis won the toss and opted to bowl first at Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram on Thursday morning.

They started brilliantly, removing both openers – Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan – in just 2.1 overs.

Soumya Sarkar was the third wicket to fall when the team total was just 32 in the ninth over. Pacer Will O’Rourke grabbed all three early wickets.

Coming to bat at No 4, Najmul Hossain Shanto rebuilt the innings alongside former skipper Litton Das.

The duo put together 160 runs on the fourth stand, before Litton departed at 76 off 91 deliveries followed by Shanto’s fourth ODI ton in the last ball of the 41st over.

Shanto’s 119-ball innings was comprised of nine boundaries and two sixes before his dismissal at 105 in the closing delivery of the 43rd over with the team total at 221.

With half the side down, Tigers produced just 45 runs in the next seven overs losing, three more wickets.

Towhid Hridoy scored 33 – the third-highest – and remained unbeaten as tailenders failed to keep up the momentum, especially in the last two overs.

Ben Lister and Jayden Lennox bagged two wickets each for the Kiwis while Dean Foxcroft got one.

The series hangs in the balance in the 3rd ODI after the visitors won the first match by 26 runs.

Bangladesh had their revenge in the second with a comfortable win by six wickets.