The rain-marred encounter on December 29 in Mount Maunganui secures Bangladesh’s T20I series immunity against New Zealand, marking their undefeated streak in 2023. With aspirations beyond mere series preservation, Bangladesh seeks their maiden T20I series triumph in New Zealand, aiming to conclude the year on a triumphant note.
In a year marked by early exits in the Asia Cup and subpar performances in the ODI World Cup, Bangladesh’s commendable growth in the T20I format stands out. Victories in bilateral T20I series against England, Ireland, and Afghanistan, coupled with a bronze medal in the Asian Games, demonstrate their T20 prowess. The clash against New Zealand presents an opportunity for Bangladesh to etch their name in history. Conversely, the hosts aim for a resolute comeback, thwarting Bangladesh’s bid for a historic T20I moment.
New Zealand’s batting struggles in their inaugural ODI loss and the first T20I against Bangladesh expose vulnerabilities. Hindered at 98 in the ODIs and restricted to 134/9 in the T20Is, New Zealand faces a critical juncture. Despite moments of resistance, including Finn Allen’s early fall and Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips struggling for runs, New Zealand eyes a more robust batting display. Bangladesh, buoyed by their formidable bowling performances, seeks to clinch their fourth bilateral T20I series win, cementing their T20 dominance in 2023.
Match Details:
– Date and Time: Sunday, December 31, 2023, 1:00 PM Local Time
– Venue: Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
– Weather Forecast: Bright skies with temperatures in the early 20s, promising favorable conditions.
– Pitch Conditions: Historically batsman-friendly, with five 190-plus totals in the first innings, including two towering scores of 238 and 243.
Team News:
New Zealand: Consideration for Rachin Ravindra exists, given recent batting challenges. Probable XI: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (c), Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Ben Sears.
Bangladesh: Litton Das’s injury sidelines him, with Shamim Hossain stepping in. Probable XI: Rony Talukdar, Shamim Hossain/Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Towhid Hridoy, Afif Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman.
