Bangladesh look to extend dominance over Zimbabwe

Sports Monday 09/March/2020 11:51 AM
By: Times News Service
Bangladesh look to extend dominance over Zimbabwe

Mirpur: Having clean swept the ODI series 3-0, Bangladesh will aim to begin the T20I series against Zimbabwe on a winning note too.

Bangladesh were thoroughly clinical in the ODI series, sealing the first and last game by huge margins and triumphing in the middle one despite being run close.

They will feel confident about transferring that dominance into the shortest format too, even though they have lost each of their last four completed T20Is.

In their most recent series, against Pakistan, their biggest issue seemed to be with their inability to make rapid runs and they will be desperate to turn that around, especially with the ICC Men's T20 World Cup on the horizon. They will hope that the likes of Afif Hossain and Liton Das can help fulfil the power-hitting requirements.

Zimbabwe's last T20I assignment was a tri-series in Singapore against the hosts and Nepal. They suffered a shock defeat against the hosts in one game but bounced back to win each of their three remaining matches.

Captain Sean Williams was outstanding in that series, scoring most runs for them and also finishing as the joint-highest wicket-taker of the series with six scalps.

What happened the last time

The two sides last faced off in a tri-series in September 2019, the third team being Afghanistan. Zimbabwe lost both their games against Bangladesh. Their inability to control the flow of runs in the middle overs cost them then, as it did during the just-concluded ODI series.

In the second game that they faced each other, Mahmudullah made a sparkling 62 to guide the side to 175/7 and Zimbabwe were bundled out for 134 in response, despite a fine 54 from Richmond Mutumbami from No.7.

Conditions

Weather is expected to be warm and mostly clear. The pitch tends to favour spin bowlers and fast bowlers who use their cutters judiciously. But bowlers can go the distance if they miss their mark.