Bangladesh will meet New Zealand in their last international match of the year at the Mirpur in a Twenty20 which is scheduled to start at 1.30pm on today, New Zealand will take on a side who never registered a T20 victory over them. But the visitors also could not register a win against the host in last seven ODIs.Bangladesh have played two T20s against New Zealand so far.
Bangladesh endured a ten-wicket defeat in the first match back in 2010 in Hamilton after being all out for a paltry seventy eight. The latest scar was of a 59-run defeat in the last T20 World Cup.
Bangladesh lost six of their last seven T20 internationals. As for New Zealand, the ratio is 3-3 with their latest match in England tour abandoned due to rain.
New Zealand, who lost the ODI series 3-0, are eyeing a win in the only T20 to go to their next tour in Sri Lanka with a win.
“Losing the ODI series was frustrating. Now, we want to leave with a win. In fact, the T20 World Cup will be here a few months later. It’s a good opportunity for us to be introduced with the condition,” New Zealand pacer Tim Southee said.
However, the hosts cannot think of a loss in their last international match of the year.
Coach Shane Jurgensen said, “We’ve played better cricket this year and hoping for a win as well in the last match.”
Bangladesh skipper is also hopeful of a ‘good finish’.
“The target is a win, surely. We hope for a good finish. We’re all confident and prepared for the match,” Mushfiqur Rahim said.
He was speaking at a press conference at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Monday.
“They were not obviously a feeble side in ODI. They might have lost some key players unlike us,” Mushfiq added.
Kyle Mills, who led New Zealand in the absence of Brendon McCullum to a four-wicket defeat in the last ODI, will also captain the T20 match. McCullum is down with a sore back.
Uncapped opener Soumya Sarker replacing Elias Sunny is the only change in Bangladesh’s in-form squad.
Soumya’s double ton against Qatar in the Under-19 Asia Cup let Bangladeshi selectors consider his name in the squad.
He also smashed a hundred in a three-day warm-up match before the New Zealand series. – Agencies
