NZ v BAN 2nd T20I Preview: Depleted Bangladesh look for turnaround as NZ eyes series victory

Bangladesh will look to keep their chins up for the 2ndT20I against New Zealand when they take on the hosts at the Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui on Friday. This will be the final opportunity for the visitors to keep the T20I series alive after losing the ODI series 3-0.

Nothing much has gone the visitor’s way in the series so far and despite getting a golden opportunity to beat the Kiwis in the 2nd ODI they threw it away and were eventually whitewashed 3-0. After losing most of the matches quite comprehensively, Bangladesh will look to change their fortunes at the Bay Oval as the surface is generally on the slower side much like the sub-continental conditions.

Bangladesh

The visitors have struggled to put on partnerships and has failed to come to terms with the pace and bounce and the conditions. Barring a 103-run opening wicket stand in the 2nd ODI there hasn’t been in any substantial partnerships throughout the series which proves the struggles Bangladesh has gone through. Apart from openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes, no batsmen scored beyond 100 runs in the ODI series. The fact that key middle order batsman Mahmudullah Riad hasn’t been in the best of touch add to their woes. His 52 in the last T20I will reignite hopes for the Bangladesh supporters of a possible comeback in the 2nd T20I.

All-rounder and former captain Shakib Al Hasan has executed his plans to perfection and is the leading wicket-taker for the visitors in the limited overs series so far. Apart from Shakib, the rest hasn’t quite jelled as a unit and despite all the bowlers bowling well in patches, Bangladesh hasn’t been able to put in the hard yard collectively. Considering the pitch for the 2nd T20I, Shakib and cutter specialist Mustafizur Rahman is expected to be the trump cards as far as the visitors are concerned.

New Zealand

The hosts, on the other hand, have been performing brilliantly in the ODI and the T20I series so far. Captain Kane Williamson has roared back to form by scoring a fluent 95 in the last ODI followed by a match-winning 73* in the 1st T20I. Colin Munro has been the other chief destructor as far as the Kiwis are concerned and has punished the Bangladesh bowlers with his audacious strokeplay. He is pretty innovative and his swashbuckling skills will surely help Williamson going into the 2nd encounter.

Colin de Grandhomme proved in the last match that he has the capability of playing the supporting innings and up the ante when needed. Along with Kane Williamson, the duo shared an unbroken 81 run stand for the 6th wicket in the 1st T20I after the hosts were reduced to 62/4 in 10.2 in a run chase of 142.

Coming to the bowling department Lockie Ferguson has been the pick of the New Zealand bowlers. After picking up 7 wickets in the 3 match ODI series, the fast bowler followed it up with 3 wickets in the 1st T20I. In the absence of the spearheads of the attack Tim Southee and Trent Boult, Ben Wheeler made his debut in the 1st match and returned with impressive figures of 2/22 in his 4 overs.

Probable XI

New Zealand:

George Worker, Kane Williamson (C), Colin Munro, Corey Anderson, Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Luke Ronchi (WK), Mitchell Santner, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi

Bangladesh:

Tamim Iqbal, ImrulKayes, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, NurulHasan (WK), Mashrafe Mortaza (C), Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shuvagata Hom

StatAttack:

• Bangladesh hasn’t played an international game at the Bay Oval and this will be only their 2nd T20I in New Zealand after losing the first game at Napier.

• The only T20I match played at this ground was in January 2016 between New Zealand and Sri Lanka which the hosts narrowly won by 3 runs.