Bangladesh will be looking to clinch the ODI series against Zimbabwe in the second of three matches at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
The Tigers are high in confidence after a record 169-run win in the first game of the series on Sunday. Opener Liton Das was the star of the show, striking 126 off 105 deliveries before retiring hurt with cramp. He is available for the second match.
A win for Bangladesh in the second match would make it a special occasion for Mushfiqur Rahim, as it would be his 100th ODI victory.
One player who is going to be in focus is experienced opener Tamim Iqbal. The left hander has been in patchy form recently and has received criticism from the media for adopting a cautious approach.
#Tamim not a worry for #McKenzie https://t.co/y1ibwXOQ8i
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) March 2, 2020
Bangladesh captain and right-arm pacer Mashrafe bin Mortaza picked up wickets for the first time in six innings on Sunday. The two wickets mean he is now the fifth player to pick up 100 ODI wickets as captain, after Shaun Pollock, Wasim Akram, Jason Holder and Imran Khan.
Zimbabwe are still looking to break a seven year ODI losing streak against Bangladesh, and the African nation will be boosted by the return of skipper Sean Williams and the experienced Craig Ervine to the playing XI. Williams had been on leave for personal reasons and could not reach the team in time for Sunday’s ODI, while Ervine fell ill with flu at the last minute.
Zimbabwe’s bowling lacked bite in the first game and they found it equally frustrating with the bat, as only two batsmen managed scores higher than 18. The 19-year-old Wesley Madhevere showed some resistance despite being on debut, while the others crumbled under the pressure of chasing a mammoth 322-run target.
The second match is scheduled to start at 1pm Bangladesh time and will be televised on GTV on Tuesday.
