Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel ran through Bangladesh’s top order with a career-best 4-16 as New Zealand clawed their way back into the five-match T20I series with a 52-run win in Dhaka on Sunday.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 76, their second-lowest T20I total, with Patel and Cole McConchie (3-15) bundling out the hosts on a slow wicket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Bangladesh were looking to secure their first T20I series triumph over the Black Caps after winning the first two games.

They got off to a flying start in chase of New Zealand’s modest score of 128-5 when Mohammad Naim blasted Jacob Duffy for two fours in the first over.

But the innings unravelled from there.

McConchie trapped opener Liton Das leg-before for 15 to get the Black Caps up and running before Patel dismissed Mahedi Hasan and Shakib Al Hasan in the same over.

There was no looking back from there.

All-rounder Rachin Ravindra bowled Naim before Patel dismissed skipper Mahmudullah Riyad and Afif Hossain off consecutive balls to leave Bangladesh reeling at 43-6.

Mushfiqur Rahim tried to salvage the chase but was left standing alone on 20 after Colin de Grandhomme picked up the final wicket.

Henry Nicholls top-scored for the Black Caps with 36 off 29 balls, marshalling his team’s recovery in an unbroken 66-run sixth-wicket stand with Tom Blundell (30) when New Zealand were teetering at 62-5.

Medium-pacer Mohammad Saifuddin was the home team’s best bowler with 2-28.

The fourth match of the series will be held on Wednesday.