Rain threat looms as Tigers eye series win

Having comprehensively won the opener, Bangladesh head into the second T20I against New Zealand on Wednesday at Chattogram’s Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium, aiming to seal the three-match series before it moves to Dhaka.

However, rain threatens to derail the Tigers’ ambitions as much as it does the visitors’ hope of levelling the series.

Parts of Chattogram were left waterlogged after heavy to moderate showers throughout yesterday. New Zealand had their optional training session moved indoors, with only a few players attending, while the hosts did not train at all.

While buoyed by a strong middle-order performance that powered a six-wicket win from an unlikely position in the first game, the Tigers will be wary of their opening pair. Both Saif Hassan and Tanzid Tamim struggled during the Powerplay in that match.

New Zealand, meanwhile, will need to find ways to curb Bangladesh’s strokeplay and counter their spin threat. Rishad Hossain and Mahedi Hasan were effective in the middle overs, helping restrict New Zealand to 181 for four.

“In one of two spells, we controlled the middle overs very well. Had we not managed that, we would have leaked 20 runs more. Since the spinners play the main role there, I would say Rishad bowled very well, while my last two overs were important,” Mahedi said in a BCB video release yesterday.

Meanwhile, having missed the opener due to an injury, New Zealand skipper Tom Latham remains uncertain for this match as well, with the team management set to make a late call on his inclusion. Bangladesh are expected to retain their winning combination.