Game preview – New Zealand vs Bangladesh, Bangladesh in NZ 2020/21, 1st T20I

Big picture

Bangladesh will be hoping a change of shape will change their fortunes in New Zealand after they were beaten 3-0 in the ODIs. The T20I three-game series kicks off in Hamilton on Sunday afternoon, with the home team likely to showcase a whole new perspective.

New Zealand will be without their regular captain Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner and Tim Seifert, who have rested in preparation for a grim IPL record. But they will have experienced Tim Southee, who leads the side when Williamson is not present, as well as Martin Guptill and Ish Sodhi.

Bangladesh is also in a similar situation now that they are without Tamim Iqbal, who is unavailable due to personal reasons. Already without Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh squad has only Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah as experienced players. They will be hopeful that Mohammad Mithun can continue his good form from the ODI series, while Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar can get past the follow-up. Bangladesh like Mohammad Naim, Mosaddek Hossain, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Afif Hossain are among the young batsmen who did not play the ODIs.

Their bowling has been looking sharp at times, especially player Taskin Ahmed and winners Mahedi Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. But Mustafizur Rahman was not his own old man during the ODIs, and Rubel Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin and Hasan Mahmud only played one game each.

Bangladesh, however, will be worried about their field. They dropped five catches in the second and third ODI, looking flawless at the back end of both games.

New Zealand are much better off compared to each other, and with the injection of newcomers, they can expect the standard to rise a bit more. Finn Allen is the most exciting of the youngsters after his Super Smash productive tournament earlier in the season. Fireworks will also be expected from Guptill, Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman, who will fight in the top five.

Southee will have Hamish Bennett, Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne in his distance attack. Legspinners Sodhi and Todd Astle will also be wicket options for the home team.

Form instructions

(Last five games completed)

New Zealand WLLWW
Bangladesh WWLLL

In mind

Daryl Mitchell has taken a big look at his abilities with a remarkable run in the third ODI against Bangladesh. He can be said to be a 360 degree batsman and an archer who can be trusted in emergency situations.

Taskin Ahmed has been Bangladesh’s most impressive archer on the trip. He is happier and tougher, especially mentally fit, but will need wickets to bring him back to the national side.

Team news

Adam Milne and Todd Astle are likely to start the series for New Zealand. Daryl Mitchell was able to continue his ODI career in the T20I side as well, especially after his first hundred ODI maiden in the previous innings.

New Zealand (possibly): 1 Devon Conway (wk), 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Finn Allen, 4 Glenn Phillips, 5 Mark Chapman, 6 Will Young, 7 Daryl Mitchell, 8 Todd Astle, 9 Tim Southee (capt), 10 Ish Sodhi , 11 Adam Milne

Bangladesh XI may like to replace the ODIs with additional Mohammad Naim – which could replace Tamim Iqbal – and Mohammad Saifuddin as the only similar changes.

Bangladesh (probably): 1 Liton Das, 2 Mohammad Naim, 3 Soumya Sarkar, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Mahmudullah (capt), 6 Mohammad Mithun, 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Mahedi Hasan, 9 Mohammad Saifuddin, 10 Taskin Ahmed , 11 Mustafizur Rahman

Park and conditions

Seddon Park usually puts out flat-bottomed pitches, with the side initially batting an average of 183 in T20I internationals. But during the Super Smash 2020-21, that figure has dropped to around 140. Nonetheless, the majority of dry conditions on Sundays means it is expected to be an issue in Hamilton.

Stats and trivia

  • Bangladesh had the lowest number in any form in New Zealand at 78 out at Seddon Park in 2010.
  • New Zealand innovator Finn Allen has hit 25 sixes in the Super Smash this season.

Quotes

“We’ve played a lot of T20 cricket in the summer, so the boys know how to cut and change quickly these days. It should be great fun.”
New Zealand Playground Daryl Mitchell on the quick turnaround between ODIs and T20Is against Bangladesh

Mohammad Isam is a Bangladeshi journalist at ESPNcricinfo. @ isam84

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