The cancellation of the second T20I due to rain means Bangladesh has secured at least a draw in this series, and they approach the decisive final match brimming with confidence, having comfortably chased a 183-run target previously. The crucial factor in their last victory was the middle-order batsmen, with Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, and Parvez Hossain accelerating impeccably to surpass the target with two overs still to spare.
However, Bangladesh will be hoping for a more aggressive start from their openers during the powerplay. Both Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan are capable batsmen, yet they struggled to find momentum in their initial outing. Saif’s 17 runs came off 16 deliveries, while Tanzid managed 20 from 25 balls. Particularly with Saif, there appeared to be an overemphasis on boundaries – he struck two fours and a six but accumulated an excessive number of dot balls.
New Zealand’s experience in the previous game was quite different. Katene Clarke and Dane Cleaver delivered brisk half-centuries, forming an 88-run second-wicket partnership adorned with impressive strokes. Nevertheless, following their departures, the middle-order found it challenging to sustain the innings’ momentum. Only stand-in captain Nick Kelly managed to strike the ball cleanly, contributing a 39-run knock from 27 balls, preventing them from reaching the 200-plus total that had seemed within their grasp.
In terms of bowling, New Zealand’s lack of experience was evident. A tactical oversight might have been the exclusion of left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox. Several costly overs severely hampered them in the opening match, an issue they will undoubtedly aim to rectify.
Bangladesh WWWLL (results from their five most recent completed matches, starting with the latest)
New Zealand LLLWW
Under the Microscope: Bangladesh’s Middle-Order and Ish Sodhi
Significant apprehension surrounded Bangladesh’s middle-order before the T20I series commenced. Hridoy had a trying time in the third ODI, failing to rotate the strike effectively during the death overs while batting with lower-order partners. Yet, Hridoy, alongside Parvez and Shamim, completely reversed this trend in the first T20I, delivering one of the most distinguished performances by a Bangladesh middle-order in a T20I run-chase. Parvez, a relative newcomer to this batting position, having only transitioned to the middle-order this year, and Shamim, shaking off a two-month competitive layoff with some extraordinary shots, were instrumental.
Ish Sodhi stands as the most accomplished bowler across both squads, boasting an impressive 164 wickets in T20Is. He shares the distinction with Tim Southee as New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker in this format, yet it was his costly third over that shifted the momentum towards Bangladesh in the first encounter. Sodhi concluded his four overs with figures of 2 for 40. Expectations are high for Sodhi to bounce back and perform well in the more spin-friendly conditions expected in Dhaka.
Team Updates: Lennox a Potential Inclusion
Bangladesh is not expected to alter the lineup from their first T20I match.
Bangladesh: 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Saif Hassan, 3 Parvez Hossain Emon, 4 Litton Das (capt, wk), 5 Towhid Hridoy, 6 Shamim Hossain, 7 Mahedi Hasan, 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Tanzim Hasan, 10 Shoriful Islam, 11 Ripon Mondol
New Zealand might consider introducing Lennox into their starting XI. The question remains as to which player would make way. Debutant Matthew Fisher conceded 53 runs from his four overs in the opening game and could potentially be dropped, especially given that Ben Lister gave away only 23 from his four overs and Josh Clarkson 28 from three. Furthermore, New Zealand fast bowler Blair Tickner has returned home a day prematurely to “ensure the completion of a bowling loads program,” as stated by NZC. He has been sidelined since the third ODI of the tour due to ankle discomfort.
New Zealand: 1 Tim Robison, 2 Katene Clarke, 3 Dane Cleaver (wk), 4 Nick Kelly (capt), 5 Bevon Jacobs, 6 Dean Foxcroft, 7 Josh Clarkson, 8 Nathan Smith, 9 Ish Sodhi, 10 Matt Fisher/Jayden Lennox, 11 Ben Lister
Despite the venue change from Chattogram to Dhaka, the weather outlook remains unfavourable. The pitches in Dhaka have been under covers for several days, which could lead to moisture on the surface, potentially benefiting fast bowlers. However, there’s a strong possibility the match will be significantly impacted by the weather. The second T20I in Chattogram marked only the second time a T20I in Bangladesh was abandoned without a single ball being bowled.