Hosts Bangladesh will look to clinch their maiden Twenty20 international series against England when the two sides meet in the second match of the three-T20I series at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Sunday.
Bangladesh with a dominating six-wicket win in the first game in Chittagong last Thursday had registered their first win in the format against the world champions.
It was only the second occasion the two sides had met in the shortest format.
A series victory against England in T20Is would boost Bangladesh's psychological strength as they prepare and build a team for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
England were flying high after winning the one-day international series but losing two matches in the port city, including the third ODI, came as a shocker for the visitors.
The way Bangladesh had outclassed the T20 powerhouse in the opening game of the series will bolster the home team, said young pacer Hasan Mahmud, who contributed to the win with classical death over bowling.
“Obviously the only target is to clinch the series after the way we won the first game,” said Hasan, who took 2/26 in the first T20I, to the media in Mirpur Saturday.
“England are a tough side in this format but we played well to beat them. If we can put up the performance like this in the next match, there is a sense of belief that we would end up winning the game,” the young Bangladesh fast bowler added.
In the first T20I, Bangladesh had showed balance in respect to batting, bowling and fielding and they would eye to repeat the same in the second game.
Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Towhid Hridoy were phenomenal with the bat in pursuit of 150-plus runs while Shakib al Hasan and Afif Hossain played the finishers' role.
The team would expect Liton Das to step up on the big occasion after failing in most of the ongoing series.
In the bowling department, Bangladesh ensured to bounce back from a point where it looked like England might pass the 200-run mark.
The bowling combination in Hasan, Shakib and Taskin Ahmed would be expected to press on the pressure on the opposition from the very beginning rather than making a comeback.
World champions England on the other hand will be desperate for a win too in order to keep themselves alive in the series, and also save their reputation.
England have limitations in their squad with only 12 players to choose from.
They do not have replacement to Will Jacks while Reece Topley according to media reports is struggling with a niggle.
It has left them with no batting options on the bench.
Standing on verge of a rare historic occasion, Bangladesh are likely to take advantage of the slow and low wicket in Mirpur to break the English musclepower.
The match is scheduled to start at 3pm and will be aired live on Gazi TV and T Sports.