Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh: hosts turn to close series in Bulawayo

Zimbabwe are now moving into the second T20I of this three-match series against Bangladesh with the momentum built up over the past few weeks and with a 1-0 series lead now. Defending side Brahmareddyaras have been a memorable team alongside from the Test start to finish a winning inning and 2-1 beat down in the ODI series and now a T20I swatting success. This is a must-win situation for Bangladesh because of the format in which they are playing for the first time in Zimbabwe under the new leadership; the pressure will be tremendous on the tourists now to bounce back from the defeat at the series opener. Both teams will have a great deal of experience and some new faces as well, so it will be sure to be a fascinating tactical battle at Queens Sports Club – although if the bigger picture then doesn't look like it might be a contest of the underdog.You can use Online Cricket ID for accessing the schedule, cricket stats, team info, and other data.

Zimbabwe Team

This Zimbabwe team is at a bilateral T20I where as few teams can have as much wind in their sails as they do today. Zimbabwe, with a seasoned all-rounder at their helm, Sikandar Raza, have been in excellent form during the entire set of Test and ODI series that they've played against Bangladesh during this tour, supported by their emphatic victory over the Hive and hard-fought ODI series against Bangladesh. The form the Zimbabweans are in came from nowhere either as they made great chances at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup against Sri Lanka and Australia to dispel doubts that this team can stand with and defeat teams that are better than it.

Raza's side has plenty of match winners to take over the game on its own if necessary as well. Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava can also provide Zimbabwe with a real menacing new-ball combination which can take movement and start the scoring race early, while Ryan Burl can keep the batsmen in check and can be decent at the drop-in end of the order. Ben Curran has added a bit of prospect in the top order alongside the pacer Wellington Masakadza, who provides the team with additional versatility in the middle.Brian Bennett has become one of the more promising youngsters for Zimbabwe alongside Ben Curran and Welly's off-spinner lends another dimension to the Zimbabwean side in the middle.

Bangladesh Team

The series loss in Zimbabwe would be an extremely disappointing overall tour for the Tigers as there is no point in losing the Test and ODI white leg on the tour too. Challenges around him go by a leadership change with Towhid Hridoy replacing Siddik Ensaf as the T20I captaincy for this series and a young leader being tasked with steering this ship already having to deal with a fallout. But it will be Hridoy's own runs that are likely to play a key role in any major resurgence the Protesters can now craft in this game as he has been in first rate form.

Although Bangladesh have had their problems on this tour, they do have talent to draw on as well. Tanzid Hasan has proved to be a hard-headed batsman in the powerplay with the added advantage of experience after a spell out of the XI and the return of Mohammad Saifuddin will give them all-round balance. Rishad Hossain has been one of the most constant and dangerous white-ball stable-bowlers for Bangladesh while with the new ball, Shoriful Islam possesses pace and control. However, if it is named in the top order structure here in Bulawayo and their bowlers can deliver the same level of control as has been their hallmark in white-ball cricket there is plenty of quality in this side to level the series here. 

The Venue: Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

The key match of the second T20I will be played in one of Zimbabwean cricket's historic and iconic venues at Queen's Sports Club in Bulawayo, home ground for all three T20I games of this series. Very reputable for both batters and bowlers: good bounce when no longer ball is fresh – demands strokeplay, and gets plenty when overcast early when seamers are at the ball. It has stirred up some history on the ground over the years and without overlooking the fact that Zimbabwe are 1-0 up, the home side would love to finish out the series on the home turf as well to see the finish line for this entire tour. Both sides, who will return to a ground where they have already played three ODIs, and one Test during this Zimbabwe tour, should gain a little from the home side's increased familiarity.

Conclusion

While Bangladesh has a slight advantage over Zimbabwe based on their pre-match win probability calculations, which may well represent the overall form of the tourists in T20 cricket, it is unlikely that the calculations take into account a poor start to the series from Bangladesh. But in cricket everything has to come down to form and momentum and Zimbabwe have been the far superior team on all of this tour to date with a side that are now playing a game of confidence after their sterling efforts at the T20 World Cup.

After the slight favorability of the stats, the trip to Bangladesh, and the home advantage enjoyed by stonewalling the visitors in Zimbabwe, this preview tips Zimbabwe's hand and raises the possibility of them taking a resounding series. If both come in unison, Bangladesh might not be out of the race with the series heading into a third game in Bulawayo if the pair of new captain Towhid Hridoy and a new bowler Rishad Hossain prove to be a potent duo in both facets of the game.  Cricket fans can enjoy this match using IPL Cricket ID and earn real cash rewards.