Keeping calm under pressure
This has perhaps been the Tigers' most impressive feature in the last 18 months or so. No matter what the situation is, both the Bangladesh batsmen and bowlers seem to keep their cool when the going gets tough.
In both the matches, the Zimbabwean openers – Hamilton Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda – gave their side a flying start only to be pegged back by the Bangladesh bowlers later on. The home side were eagerly waiting for their opportunity and duly pounced on the opposition to change the course of the games.
Collective approach from the batsmen
Almost all of the Bangladesh batsmen got starts and tried to play according to the demand of the situation.
Experienced campaigner Tamim Iqbal and dashing opening batsman Soumya Sarkar both looked in fine touch along with Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib al Hasan, who more than played their part with the bat. Youngster Sabbir Rahman, in the meantime, further enhanced his reputation as a big-hitter with significant knocks in both the matches.
Sabbir promotion pays off
The Bangladesh think tank decided to experiment with the batting order, promoting Sabbir at No 3, thus adding some extra punch to the Tigers' batting order. The stylish right-hander grabbed the opportunity with both hands and was instrumental behind both the victories.
Emergence of Sabbir, the all-rounder
The 24-year old Rajshahi cricketer, who also bowls handy leg-spinners, was not utilised properly in recent times but skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza finally provided him the platform in the first two games and Sabbir duly delivered.
Sabbir conceded 16 runs from two overs without success last Friday but bagged vital scalps yesterday, ending up with bowling figures of 3/11 from 2.1 overs as the Tigers thrashed the opposition on their way to a 2-0 series lead.
Pacers continue to deliver
The Tigers' pace bowling department, led by Mashrafe, has had a stellar 2015 and continued in the same vein in the first two matches.
The pacemen – Mashrafe, Mustafizur Rahman and Al Amin Hossain – picked up four of the seven wickets to fall last Friday and followed it up by taking four among eight wickets yesterday. Head coach Chandika Hathurusingha will be hoping for more of the same this Wednesday in the third and penultimate T20I.