A golden opportunity comes up to Bangladesh to clinch the T20 series against New Zealand, as well as to end the year 2023 with winning all the series they played of this format when they will take on the hosts in the second match today.
Bangladesh came to Mount Maunganui with a 1-0 lead in the T20I series against New Zealand, as if they would win today, will hand them the series with one game in hands to play.
The match gets underway at 19:10 local time (12:10 BST) at the Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui.
For Tigers, victory in Mount Maunganui would be a tough task but if they produce another win, it will have a big statement.
In accordance previous records of the in Mount Maunganui, the surface is expecting a bowler friendly and any score of 150+ in the first innings of the match is likely to be tough to chase down.
Meanwhile, according to the weather forecast, there could be some delays in the first half of the game. Thunderstorms are expected and humid conditions will be in the area. And that could be a huge challenge for the Tigers to adjust.
However, Bangladesh, who have a happy memory of winning their first ever Test match against New Zealand, at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, this time have reached there with a great opportunity to win T20 series.
Tigers had a bit comfortable win in the first T20 match at Mclean Park, Napier on Wednesday when the Black Caps posted 134/9 and the Tigers reached the target with 8 balls remaining.
Bangladesh now is highly boosted up with winning five of their last six games in this format before coming to Mount Maunganui when they keep the momentum of their strong T20I form with the win on Wednesday.
Tigers, following their 2-1 defeats in the ODI series, made a good comeback to win two matches in arrow with winning the last ODI and the first T20, on this trip and so their confidence are high.
The Tigers, who are growing in self-belief, will not get it an easy game on today.
Bangladesh, who used to struggle with their confidence when playing in New Zealand soil, are obtaining their self-belief after winning the successive games on this tour.
Bangladesh’s batters are growing in confidence and with bowler Shoriful Islam in excellent form, a leader in their bowling attack.
The New Zealand side have experiences and home advantage so they are the favourite sides against hosts, despite trailing by 0-1.
With the ball, Shoriful Islam, Mahedi Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman are on their picks.
Hasan might be morally on high after a stunning bowling on Wednesday when he dismissed Seifert in the first over before getting the big prize of Daryl Mitchell in the fifth.
Mustafizur has a chance to reach the mark of his 300 international career wickets after claiming his 104th and 105th T20I wickets in the last game, will need two more in this match to earn the feat.
Mustafizur, the 28 year old left-arm fast medium bowler showed off his vast display of skills on his way to dismissing James Neesham and Tim Southee in the first ODI. Shoriful Islam, the young and exciting left-arm swing bowler has had an excellent tour when he dismissed Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips from his second and third balls of the game on Wednesday, expecting he will enjoy the conditions again at Bay Oval.
But New Zealand, no doubt will appear with a stronger showing with both bat and ball to do enough to remain on contest to win the series after levelling by 1-1.
Shoriful Islam, the young and exciting left-arm swing bowler has had an excellent tour and dismissed Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips from his second and third balls of the game on Wednesday.