Competition among allrounders good for New Zealand - Munro

New Zealand may already have three capable allrounders in Corey Anderson, James Neesham and Grant Elliot, but Colin Munro's performance on Sunday has given the team one more option to bank on, as they look for victory in their one-off Twenty20 against Bangladesh on Wednesday.

Munro struck his second ODI half-century in Fatullah- an adventurous 85 which included plenty of reverse hits and blows down the ground. He dominated the 130-run fourth-wicket partnership with Ross Taylor, but eventually tried one reverse hit too many and was caught behind in the 44th over.

"It is the way I play," Munro said. "I have developed that [reverse] shot in the last two-three years. In the subcontinent where world-class bowlers are bowling at you and with the new rules they have backward point open, so it is a really good option."

It was an important innings for Munro because his previous ODI score was a first-ball duck against England in Nottingham in June this year. Although New Zealand had already lost the series going into this game, Munro said that he had a lot to play for.

"Some guys said it is a dead rubber so go out there and play with freedom," he said. "I got a duck in my last international match and so had a lot to prove yesterday. It was very pleasing to score runs in my first game here because I have been working on playing against spin."

Though New Zealand have also had good performances from allrounders Anderson, Neesham and Elliott at different times during this tour, the team hasn't gelled as a whole. Munro, however, believes that the fight for places in the side could only be seen as a positive.

"There's a lot of competition and it is good for the team. I think the two best allrounders are Corey Anderson and Jimmy Neesham because they can bowl the full quota of overs and can contribute with the bat.

"Grant Elliott and myself are more like part-timers in these conditions and at this stage of my career, I need to be realistic and work on areas that I am not good at. I have to keep doing what I am doing. I can't rely on just one score."

Munro was praised by Taylor after their partnership, and the 26-year-old is now looking for an extended run in the team. "Ross said some good things at the end of the game. It was great batting with him as I think he absorbed the pressure in the middle period well yesterday," he said. "Hopefully I have put my hand up and said I can play in the subcontinent, and play the first one-dayer in Sri Lanka."

Even Tim Southee viewed allrounders as New Zealand's biggest strength, because of their ability to control the run-rate with ball, and "clear the fence". Now New Zealand would be really hoping their strengths translate into a victory in the T20, so that they finish what has been a dismal Bangladesh tour on a high.

Munro said the team hadn't given up yet. "It would be silly of us to have our heads down halfway through a long tour [of the subcontinent]. We have a lot of cricket left, including the Twenty20 game here. If we can win that one and go to Sri Lanka, that would be great for the team."