After coughing up one chance to win the series, Bangladesh will have another go at it on Wednesday when they take on New Zealand in the fourth match of the five in Dhaka, once again knowing full well that a win gives them the series.
After rebounding nicely in game three, New Zealand know they can force a decider with a win in this match. That is the backdrop to the series but realistically this is once again about building towards the World T20 next month.
Bangladesh
Every side is allowed a bad day at the office and Bangladesh had theirs come along in the previous game. The big thing for the Bangladesh outfit in this match is to ensure they don’t follow up with another one. If they don’t do that and get back to their best cricket then we saw in the opening two matches that they look to be a good deal better than their opponents in these conditions. I just wonder if the conditions are catching up with them and the toss is deciding the match.
The one area where Bangladesh need a slighter better output is with the bat. They have done enough in the first two matches without being sensational and then in the third one they were found wanting badly. They just need to settle a little at the top as there will be chance to catch up later in the innings once the spinners have done their thing. They are spot on with the ball though which is very much a positive.
New Zealand
You can never write New Zealand off in a game of cricket. The one thing I like about New Zealand is they adapt very quickly when things are going wrong and if they are found wanting in conditions early in a series they reflect on it, take stock and then find a way of coming up with the goods. That can never be a bad thing and is something that could serve them incredibly well at the World T20 next month, where they have to be considered live dangers for the title.
In this series New Zealand just needed to work out the areas to hit the ball and which bowlers they can and can’t attack and they did that in the third match. They didn’t put up an emphatic score or anything like that but the one they did put on the board was more than enough to get the job done. They will be looking for a repeat of that effort and if they get it there is every chance that they can take this series into a deciding match.
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Team News
Bangladesh didn’t make any changes for the last match with the series not yet won. It still isn’t won so it would be a bit of a surprise were they to suddenly make changes now especially as the first game was just a bad day at the office.
New Zealand probably won’t want to change a winning side but there is one or two question marks over the fitness of Scott Kuggeleijn. They are not short of pace bowling to replace him with should they need to though.
Betting
I can’t say I’m massive enthused about taking the under on a 247.5 runs line but based on what we’ve seen in not only this series but the Australia one which preceded it, I think it is the best bet. Three of the six innings in this series have finished in double figures and in none of the five matches Bangladesh played out against Australia here recently were there as many as 247.5 runs. That makes me feel more confident about playing the under here.
These pitches aren’t getting any easier to bat on and I think the strain that the batsmen have been under for the last couple of weeks is beginning to take its toll. Both teams have well have truly cottoned onto the fact that spin is the way to go on this wicket and are loading their teams with spinners accordingly, which is negating the flow of runs. We’ve had eight matches with New Zealand and Australia in Bangladesh and only one of them has covered this line so the odds are this one goes under too.
Tips
Back Under 247.5 runs for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
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