Visitors Bangladesh will be desperate to showcase a much better display with the bat and avoid a series defeat when they take on hosts New Zealand in the second match of the three-ODI series at Hagley Oval in Christchurch Tuesday.
The game is scheduled to begin at 7am, Bangladesh standard time.
Bangladesh in the first game were humbled as the side after sent to bat first were all out below 150 runs for the first time since 2018.
With 131 to chase, home side New Zealand reached the shore losing just two wickets, and left Bangladesh still winless against the Kiwis in their backyard across all formats.
The responsibility will lie on the Bangladesh top-order to pass the first 10 overs without big damage with captain Tamim Iqbal expected to play the pivotal role.
Approach by other top-order batters in the shape of Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar should be much better if Bangladesh want to create strong chance of avoiding the series defeat.
Bangladesh right-handed batsman Mohammad Mithun sees no option but for the batting unit to fire to generate competition...
Posted by Sports Tribune on Monday, 22 March 2021
A lot has been said over the seaming-friendly conditions in New Zealand where Hagley Oval is also expected to offer some bounce and swing for the hosts' pacers after Trent Boult was instrumental bagging four wickets in the first ODI.
Bangladesh can be relieved with the fact that Christchurch condition is a bit different compared to the other venues in New Zealand.
The ball tends to not bounce much at Hagley Oval but come at a good pace to the bat.
There is however, the record that goes against Bangladesh, in the two matches they have played at the venue.
The Tigers suffered crushing defeats in the two ODIs that they have played in Christchurch, losing by 77 runs and eight wickets in 2016 and 2019 respectively.
“There is no option but for the batsmen to take reasonability to do well on such wickets (in New Zealand). We played really bad in the last game. The condition was against us but we cannot use that as an excuse. We have said it before too, we are not such a bad team (to score 131 runs),” said Bangladesh batsman Mohammad Mithun Monday.
Bangladesh following a disastrous batting performance that yielded just 131 runs in the first game at Dunedin on Saturday went on to lose the game by eight wickets against the hosts.
Posted by Sports Tribune on Sunday, 21 March 2021
“Christchurch is a new venue, the game is new. We will of course want to forget the last game and look forward to generate a result in the second game,” the right-handed batsman added.
A big change in the Bangladesh line-up for the game is unexpected however.
To give depth to the batting line-up, the team management can mull to include pacer-allrounder Saifuddin in place of young pacer Hasan Mahmud.
Hosts New Zealand are likely to persist with their winning combination as the side are set to miss Ross Taylor even in the second game.
Taylor is still recovering from a hamstring tear picked up ahead of the series while playing domestic leagues.
“We played really well in the first game. It is always nice to start with the intensity in our bowling performance. We really made a statement with the way we started with the bat. We hope to continue that but also expect Bangladesh will bounce back considerably,” said New Zealand coach Gary Stead.
Bangladesh XI (probable):
Tamim Iqbal (C), Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Saifuddin, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman
