The Test series between Bangladesh and Pakistan concludes this week when the sides meet for the second and final time in Dhaka. There is the series on the line here plus some valuable World Test Championship points.
Pakistan know they have a share of the series secured after winning the opening match and now they will go in search of the result which guarantees then the full win. Bangladesh know they have to win to leave proceedings with a draw overall.
Bangladesh
When you consider that they won the toss I would imagine Bangladesh will be disappointed to lose the first match but especially the margin of the loss. This is very much a transitional Bangladesh side, and would appear to be in all formats of the game but even so they would have expected better from the advantage they inherited in that opening match. One bad innings proved so costly and that is something they are going to need to eradicate from their game if they are going to improve in this format.
The positives for Bangladesh would be that they secured a first innings lead and that in the main they bowled pretty well on a pitch which didn’t deteriorate too much. If there were some criticisms then apart from their third innings batting display you would point the finger at them not maximising their first innings. From 250-4 they should have been going way beyond 400 and you sensed once they didn’t do that the writing was somewhat on the wall.
Pakistan
It was a sign of the improvement that Pakistan are currently undertaking in all parts of their game currently. There was once a time when Pakistan would get behind in a game and completely lose their heads and fail miserably from there onwards so the fact they dug in and held their nerve in that opening match is something they should be applauded for. To then be able to take advantage when their chance came is the icing on the cake.
You would imagine after a staple diet of T20 action in the lead up to that first Test that there would be natural improvement in the Pakistan ranks going into this match so they look to be in a wonderful position to claim the series from here on in. The other advantage Pakistan have going into this final match of the series is that they know they can win even if they lose the toss and in these conditions that is quite a confidence boost to have.
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Team News
Saif Hassan will not be involved in this match which means that Mahmudul Hasan Joy is expected to step up and make his Test debut. More importantly for the home side though Shakib-al-Hasan and Taskin Ahmed are expected to return to the XI.
There have been no mentions of any fresh injuries or concerns like that for Pakistan in the lead up to this match so unless there is a late illness on the day of the game then the tourists could well name an unchanged side.
Betting
Usually I would have a good look at the side markets with the intention of getting stuck into something but there is something of a cyclone on its way to this part of the world during the match and while I take ordinary weather forecasts with a pinch of salt I change my stance where extreme weather patterns are concerned so it is hard to see there being much in the way of action in this match. Even if the weather doesn’t take out the entire three days it is forecast for, it is going to have a big impact.
It might well be that the clean up operation is an extensive one so once the weather arrives there isn’t much time left in the match. I wouldn’t usually be recommending a bet on a draw at 8/11 but given that the first match was only won on the final morning, any interruption is going to be significant here. If the weather is correct, and these days the extreme stuff tends to be spot on, then I’d be surprised if there is a winner here.
Tips
Back Draw for a 3/10 stake at 1.73 with Betfair
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