Phillips, Conway power NZ into tri-series final

Glenn Phillips and Devon Conway have powered New Zealand into a home T20 tri-series final, both striking superb half-centuries to see off Bangladesh.

The Black Caps top order all fired as New Zealand hit 5-208 in Christchurch on Wednesday, in their last pool outing in the warm-up series for the T20 World Cup in Australia.

Phillips was truly destructive, belting 60 off 24 including five sixes in a late-innings blitz.

"It was a complete batting performance," Phillips said of the top order, "today it really came together and worked out nicely."

In reply, Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan struck a fighting 70 off 43 but had little support as the Tigers crumbled to 7-160 and a 48-run loss.

Adam Milne was the chief destroyer, claiming 3-24 to put the Black Caps into Friday's final against Pakistan.

The match was the fifth in six days played at Hagley Oval but the first on a new wicket, with White Ferns spinner Frankie Mackay predicting a batter's delight on a pre-match inspection.

The Black Caps proved her right from the get-go, throwing the bat around to rich reward.

After his half-century against Pakistan on Wednesday, Finn Allen (32 off 19) picked up where he left off before top-edging an attempted slog to be well caught by Yasir Ali.

With skipper Kane Williamson rested, Allen's form forced Martin Guptill to the unfamiliar position of first drop, but the master blaster still produced with 34 off 27.

Guptill and Conway (64 off 40) put on 72 together, laying the platform for Phillips to blast the Kiwis beyond 200.

All of the Bangladesh attack wore the brunt of the Black Caps' run thirst, with Mohammad Saifuddin (2-37) the pick of the bowlers after claiming the wickets of Conway and Mark Chapman in one over.

Setting out on their chase, Bangladesh were ahead of New Zealand at the halfway mark, but consistently lost key batters.

Milne broke the opening stand by bowling Najmul Hossain Shanto (11 off 12), and then set a trap for Soumya Sarkar (23 off 17), who guided a shot down the throat of Trent Boult at third man.

Michael Bracewell (2-39) also chimed in with Litton Das (23 off 16) caught at deep midwicket.

Shakib set sail, reaching a half-century off 33 balls, but without support Bangladesh’s charge faltered.

Trent Boult (0-22) and stand-in skipper Tim Southee (2-36) kept it tight at the death, denying the tourists a boundary off their final three overs.

The Tigers, winless in three outings in New Zealand so far, get a final chance on Thursday in a dead rubber with Pakistan.