After losing the first two T20I matches, Bangladesh is desperately looking forward to winning the third T20I to restore their confidence ahead of the Test series as they face New Zealand in the final T20I of the three-match series scheduled to be held tomorrow (Sunday) at Mount Maunganui. The match will kick off at 8 am (BST).
Bangladesh already lost all their tour matches against New Zealand. But a win for the Tigers will not only help them skip the whitewash but also raise their confidence level. The good news is that Soumya Sarkar finally got runs in the second match with an entertaining 39 runs knock that studded magnificent fours and sixes. He would be expected to play better in the third match, reports BSS.
However, the touring side might be thinking to rest two of their key players – Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan and instilling some freshness into the XI. Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza would also like to sign off with a win in New Zealand, having endured his worst series as captain.
Pacer Taskin Ahmed has been named as part of the Test squad, he won’t be risked in the final match but Shuvagata Hom and Taijul Islam may get their first match on tour if the senior players are rested.
The Mount Maunganui pitch was on the slower side in Friday’s match, but not so much that it curtailed big-hitting. Tigers were unable to cope with the heavy wind on Friday and would want to make it a factor in their calculations as well. It is forecasted to be a bright and sunny day.
For New Zealand, at least one first-choice player will be on the bench for New Zealand with Luke Ronchi injuring his groin during Friday’s T20I. Tom Bruce stood in for him then, but uncapped specialist wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Blundell, who has a strike-rate of 121.57 in 19 T20s, has been picked up in the squad and could be looking at a debut in international cricket a day after winning the Super Smash final with Wellington.
Squads: Bangladesh (probable) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Imrul Kayes, 3 Sabbir Rahman, 4 Shakib Al Hasan, 5 Mahmudullah, 6 Soumya Sarkar, 7 Mosaddek Hossain, 8 Nurul Hasan (wicket-keeper) 9 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 10 Rubel Hossain, 11 Mustafizur Rahman.
New Zealand (probable) 1 Kane Williamson (captain), 2 George Worker, 3 Colin Munro, 4 Corey Anderson, 5 Tom Bruce, 6 Colin de Grandhomme/ James Neesham, 7 Tom Blundell (wicketkeeper), 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Matt Henry/ Ben Wheeler, 10 Ish Sodhi, 11 Trent Boult/ Lockie Ferguson.
