Bangladesh’s Quest for a Historic Whitewash
After securing a dominant victory in the series opener, Bangladesh is set to aim for a historic whitewash in the T20I series against New Zealand. The third and final match of the series will take place on Saturday, May 1st, at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. The second match was washed out due to rain, which has added an extra layer of significance to this crucial encounter.
Bangladesh’s Strong Start
Bangladesh made a brilliant start to the T20I series by defeating New Zealand by 6 wickets in the opening match. When they batted first, New Zealand managed to score 182 for the loss of 6 wickets in their 20 overs. Rishad Hossain was the standout bowler for Bangladesh, taking two wickets in his spell. Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hsan, and Mahedi Hasan each took one wicket. On the batting front, Bangladeshi players contributed well, with Towhid Hridoy leading the way with an unbeaten half-century, scoring 51* off 27 deliveries. Shamim Hossain also played a key role, scoring 31 runs off just 13 deliveries. This win gave Bangladesh an early 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
The second match was washed out due to rain, giving the hosts an advantage as they head into the final match. A victory here would mean a clean sweep of the series against New Zealand.
New Zealand’s Challenges
With the second match resulting in a washout, New Zealand finds themselves trailing 0-1 in the series. They are playing with a third-string side, led by Nick Kelly, with no senior players participating. Despite this, they put up a good fight in the series opener, scoring 182 runs in their 20 overs. Katene Clarke and Dane Cleaver both scored half-centuries, with 51 runs each. Skipper Nick Kelly also contributed with 39 runs. Ish Sodhi was the most effective bowler for New Zealand, taking two wickets in his spell. The visitors will be looking to bounce back in the final match and level the series.
Match Details
- Match: Bangladesh vs New Zealand 3rd T20I
- Date and Time: Saturday, May 2; 1:30 PM IST
- Venue: Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka
- Broadcasting and Live Streaming: TV – NA, Live Stream – FanCode (app and website)
Pitch and Weather Conditions
The pitch at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium has historically favored spinners due to its slow and sluggish nature, making batting a challenge in the second innings. However, pace bowlers can benefit during the power play by extracting good movement. Batters will need to be cautious against spin, but a good score is achievable after spending some time at the crease. The average first innings score at this venue is likely to be around 150.
The weather forecast indicates heavy clouds throughout the match, with a 60% chance of rain interrupting play. The temperature will range between 28-30°C, with humidity around 78%, making it feel slightly warmer. There is also a slight chance of thunderstorms.
Head-to-Head Records
In T20I matches between Bangladesh and New Zealand:
– Matches Played: 22
– Won by Bangladesh: 5
– Won by New Zealand: 15
– Tied: 0
– No Result: 2
Probable Lineups
Bangladesh: Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Towhid Hridoy, Parvez Hossain Emon, Litton Das (c/wk), Shamim Hossain, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Ripon Mondal, Shoriful Islam
New Zealand: Tim Robinson, Katene Clarke, Dane Cleaver (wk), Nick Kelly (c), Bevon Jacobs, Dean Foxcroft, Josh Clarkson, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi, Matthew Fisher, Ben Lister
Players to Watch
Towhid Hridoy (BAN): A prominent all-rounder for Bangladesh, he has been a consistent performer on home pitches. In the series opener, he scored an unbeaten 51 off 27 deliveries, sealing the match. He has accumulated 1228 runs in 58 T20I matches.
Dane Cleaver (NZ): The 26-year-old batter scored 51 runs off 37 balls in the opening match and has shown promise. He has played 3 T20I matches so far, scoring 62 runs with one half-century.
Toss Prediction
Historically, teams that have won the toss at this venue have opted to bat in two out of the last three T20I matches. Batting first on this pitch offers advantages, as teams that have done so have won half of the 66 T20I matches hosted here.
Match Scenarios
Scenario 1
– Toss Winner: Bangladesh (opts to bat first)
– Power-Play Score: 40-45
– BAN Total: 155-160
– Match Winner: Bangladesh
Scenario 2
– Toss Winner: New Zealand (opts to bat first)
– Power-Play Score: 40-42
– NZ Total: 145-160
– Match Winner: New Zealand
Who Will Win?
Bangladesh has been performing exceptionally well recently, especially at home. They have already won the ODI series and are now targeting a T20I series victory. With the momentum on their side and an inexperienced New Zealand team, Bangladesh is expected to come out on top in this crucial match. Given their strong performance at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, they are the favorites to win.
