Upbeat Bangladesh now out to seal T20 series, An upbeat Bangla-desh is now determined to come to all guns blazing in the third and final T20 International against Zimbabwe tomorrow (Tuesday) in a bid to seal the series and continue their dominance over the African opponents. The match which starts at 5 PM (Bangla-desh Time) will be aired live on T Sports Channel from the Harare Sports Club.
Upbeat Bangladesh now out to seal T20 series
Bangladesh’s confidence stemmed from their clinical performance in the second match, which they won by seven wickets. A team without any senior player was put in a troublesome situation after losing the first game by 17 runs but the second game proved Bangladesh are still capable enough to beat Zimbabwe in any condition.
The first T20 loss came with some dangerous signs as Zimbabwe batters, specially Sikandar Raza and Wessly Madhevere cut through the Bangladeshi bowling line up in an emphatic manner to compile 205-3. Bangladesh’s bowling attack which comprised their first choice bowlers-Mustafizur, Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed and Nasum Ahmed was severely beaten up by the Zimbabwe duo which made the fans shiver down the spine.
However, Bangladesh recovered from that loss, especially with their spin trick as Mosaddek Hossain Saikat’s wily off-spin played a vital role in toning down a Zimbabwe surge.
Saikat became the only fourth Bangla-deshi bowler to claim a five-wicket haul in T20 International cricket, helping the side to restrict Zimbabwe for 135-8. Thanks to Liton Das’s 33-ball-56 Bangla-desh chased the target down with 15 balls remaining.
So ahead of third and final ODI, which turned out to be decided, Bangla-desh looked to play the spin card again well. But what would disturb their rhythm is the absence of captain Nurul Hasan Sohan who was ruled out of the remainder of the Zimbabwe series with finger injury.
It is learned Mosaddek Hossain Saikat and Liton Das will be picked up to lead the side in his absence.
However, even without Sohan, Bangla-desh is capable enough to seal the series.
“We are hopeful that we can win the third game too to win the series,” said Mosaddek who was adjudged man of the match for his 5-20 in the second T20.
“It is actually my second five-for in T20 cricket but I can’t remember when I got the first five-for. However, the second five-for will not be faded away. When I bowled, I didn’t think that I am a part-time bowler, rather I love to deem myself a regular bowler. When the captain gave me the ball in the second game, I was just thinking to tie them down and be as economical as I can be. That worked well as they charged me and gave the wickets.”
Bangladesh however won 12 matches and lost six in the last 18 encounters between the two sides in this format. And to extend the number of victories, they need to have a forced change in the third T20 as Sohan was ruled out. There is a chance that young Parvez Hossain Emon who is the fastest T20 centurion by a Bangladeshi batter could make his debut. Liton Das would keep the wicket in the place of Sohan.
Bangladesh: Munim Shahriar, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Liton Das, Afif Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Parvez Hossain Emon.
Zimbabwe: Ryan Burl, Regis Chakabva (wk), Tanaka Chivanga, Craig Ervine (capt), Luke Jongwe, Innocent Kaia, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Sean Williams.
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