With only 2 runs required from the last 3 deliveries, it would have been a cake-walk for any team who had two set batsmen in the middle. But, Bangladesh somehow managed to lose their nerve and snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in a cliffhanger against India at Bangalore.
The loss shook their camp and skipper Mashrafe Mortaza did not hold back his emotions after the encounter. Without two of their key bowlers, Bangladesh showed heart and ran India really close only to fall excruciatingly short.
Having already been out of the reckoning for the semi-finals, the Tigers take on New Zealand who were the first team in the competition to book themselves a place in the final four. Though it seems like a dead-rubber, the contest will once again offer an opportunity for Bangladesh to pull off an upset.
While the Kiwis might try to ensure that they enter into the knockout stages unscathed, the team management could also think about providing match-practice to some of their untested players.
New Zealand vs Bangladesh 2016 LIVE Streaming Details
TV Channel: Star Sports 1, HD1 (English) and 3, HD3 (Hindi)
Online Stream: www.starsports.com, Hotstar App
Date: 26 March 2016, Saturday
Time: 15:00 IST, 09:30 GMT
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Team News
New Zealand
Captain Kane Williamson has earned praise from all quarters for being bold enough to drop the likes of Tim Southee and Trent Boult and utilizing the correct combination for each pitch. Since there is not a lot pressure on the Blackcaps for this match, coach Mike Hesson might bring back Nathan McCullum in a bid to further strengthen the spin attack as sterner tests and tiring pitches await.
Bangladesh
Due to the suspensions of Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny, the think tank had been forced to play Mustafizur Rahman even though he had not recovered fully from a side strain. It remains to be seen whether they would bring in Abu Hider to give Mustafizur some time off. Mohammad Mithun is also under immense pressure to keep his place after failing to contribute so far and Nurul Hasan might replace him.
Teams (Predicted XI)
New Zealand
Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson (C), Colin Munro, Corey Anderson, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliot, Luke Ronchi (WK), Nathan McCullum/Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Mitchell McClenaghan, Tim Southee/Trent Boult
Bangladesh
Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Mithun/Nurul Hasan (WK), Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mashrafe Mortaza (C), Shuvagata Hom, Al-Amin Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman
Recent Form
New Zealand: W-W-W-W-W
Bangladesh: L-L-L-W-W
Key Stats
- Shakib Al Hasan is one of only two all-rounders to have completed the double of 1000 runs and 50 wickets in T20Is alongside Shahid Afridi.
- Nathan McCullum is the most successful bowler for New Zealand in T20Is with 57 scalps to his name.
- Martin Guptill needs only 56 runs to go past the second-placed Tillakaratne Dilshan in the T20I batting chart.
- Bangladesh have played against New Zealand in 3 T20Is and lost all 3 of them.
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