With the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 looming on the horizon, both Bangladesh and Zimbabwe had expressed their desire of tinkering with their respective team combinations in the ongoing four-match T20 international series.
Both the hosts and the visitors lived up to their pre-match words in the first T20I last Friday, experimenting at will as the former posted a four-wicket win with eight balls in hand.
The second match, scheduled for today at Khulna’s Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, is pretty much expected to follow a similar script. And having won the first game in a relatively comfortable fashion, it is the Tigers who will start as favourites yet again.
Tamim Iqbal, Sabbir Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib al Hasan were all among the runs in the first T20I and skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza duly conveyed his contentment with the batting performance of his charges.
Sabbir was the most impressive among the quartet, scoring a brisk 36-ball 46, decorated with four boundaries and a six, and the experimental decision to promote the young right-hander to No 3 paid off in some style.
Mashrafe however, will be hoping for a better start by his bowlers today.
Even though the Tigers restricted the southern African nation to 166/6 two days ago, the latter were coasting at one stage on 101 without loss. Opening batsmen Hamilton Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda put on a record opening partnership to give Zimbabwe a solid start after skipper Elton Chigumbura won the toss and took first guard.
The Tigers bowlers, led superbly by Mustafizur Rahman (2/18) and Al Amin Hossain (2/24), did well to peg back the opposition, giving away only 21 runs in the final five overs.
Mashrafe and Shakib though proved to be expensive so the experienced duo will be desperate for a better show sooner rather than later.
Like Bangladesh, Zimbabwe too will eye some improvements today, starting with their middle order which failed miserably in the first game. None of the middle-order batsmen crossed seven in the face of disciplined bowling by the Tigers so they must fire if they are to script a comeback to the series.
