Bangladesh will face New Zealand in the third T20 international of their three-match series. The match will take place at Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Bangladesh on the Verge of Series Win
According to ESPNcricinfo, Bangladesh has never won more than one series on a single tour against New Zealand. They have a chance to change that in the third and final match. A victory would secure the series win. Even if the match is abandoned due to rain, Bangladesh would finish the series with an unbeaten 1-0 record, also marking a historic occasion.
Of course, New Zealand will be eager to prove themselves and level the series.
Match Prediction and Key Players
CricketWorld predicts that Bangladesh will win the toss and ultimately the match. Google gives Bangladesh a 60 percent chance of winning, while New Zealand has a 40 percent probability.
In the first match, Tawhid Hridoy was the top scorer for Bangladesh with 51 runs off 27 deliveries. Dane Cleaver and Katene Clarke also scored 51 runs for New Zealand, off 37 and 28 deliveries, respectively.
Pitch and Weather Conditions in Dhaka
CricTracker notes that the pitch at Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium tends to favour teams batting second. The surface is typically slower, which assists bowlers who can maintain disciplined lines and lengths.
Winning the toss and choosing to bat second could be advantageous.
While it is rainy around the stadium currently, the weather is expected to improve around match time. AccuWeather forecasts 27 degrees Celcius with a 13 km/h wind and a 20 percent chance of precipitation.
Potential Lineups
Here are the potential XIs for Bangladesh and New Zealand:
- Bangladesh
- New Zealand
The final match presents a significant opportunity for Bangladesh to make history against New Zealand.