Tigers eye series win against reinvigorated Kiwis
The control that the Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah Riyad showed while coming down the track to Kiwi pacer Doug Bracewell for a gorgeous cover drive in the 15th over of the second T20I is something the Tigers' think-tank would want in the batting department when they take on a spirited New Zealand in the third of the five match T20I series today.
Despite the fact that experienced campaigners Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan missed out with the bat, Mahmudullah once again stepped up and set the tone. That led to Bangladesh's 12th T20I win under Mahmudullah Riyad, eight of which came this year, making him the most successful Bangladeshi captain in the shortest format of the game.
The 35-year-old will also reach a major milestone in the third T20I, which will mark his 100th T20I appearance for the Tigers.
Shakib, who will lead the spin department, will also be chasing history in the third game. He needs just two more wickets to overtake Lasith Malinga's 107 and become the leading wicket-taker in T20Is.
More importantly, Shakib will also have to guide spinners Mahedi Hasan and Nasum Ahmed in handling pressure situation and the competitiveness of the ongoing series will surely help Bangladesh to prepare better for the upcoming mega-event.
While the visitors bounced back strongly after being bundled out for their joint-ever lowest total of 60 in the first T20I, with skipper Tom Latham almost snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, they ultimately fell four runs short in chase of 142 in the second game.
The Mirpur pitch also curbed its recent reputation of low-scoring encounters on slow and low tracks, allowing the ongoing series to emerge as a great platform for the Bangladesh think-tank to assess the batting department, which remains the biggest area of concern ahead of next month's T20 World Cup.
Russell Domingo and his troops will now aim to secure a maiden T20I series win over the Kiwis in the third game of the five-match series today and it will be interesting to see whether the Tigers once again take up the challenge like they did in the second T20I after Mahmudullah won the toss and elected to bat.
After experienced Tamim Iqbal opted out of the upcoming T20 World Cup, a sense of relief that their places would be secure was reflected in the performances of Naim Sheikh and Liton Das in the second game.
The duo showed great maturity and, interestingly, it was the first time in seven T20Is in Bangladesh that a team completed the Powerplay without losing a wicket. Naim and Liton added 59 for the first wicket, Bangladesh's highest opening stand in their past nine T20Is, with the previous best of 42 coming against Australia last month.
Onus will be on two openers to continue their form and give the team management some comfort ahead of the World Cup.