The first ODI between New Zealand and Bangladesh was high scoring and entertaining for large parts so hopefully we will get more of the same on Thursday when the two sides meet in the second match of the series.
After winning that opener New Zealand know they can win the series with a win in this match while Bangladesh will be out to force a decider at the weekend. To do that they have to win this game as the weather is set fair.
New Zealand
The doubts over New Zealand heading into the series was their batting and although they put up over 300 it wasn’t a performance which will have quietened those critics completely. In the end they batted well but at 158/4 they were teetering between exploding to a good score and collapsing to a poor one. Credit to them for getting up to an excellent score but they would want more from their top order.
The real positive for New Zealand was with the ball but we should come to expect that. They have bowled attacking lines and lengths in this format of the game for a couple of years and are experts at it and if they are ever to be consistently beaten them someone is going to have to come up with a plan that combats that. It hasn’t happened yet.
Bangladesh
The first game was very much a case of what might have been for Bangladesh. We wondered how well their bowling attack would go in these conditions and for 30 overs they were really good but they let New Zealand get away from them in the last 20 and that is the area they will need to improve on if they are to level the series.
With the bat I thought they had the right balance between caution and attack and the right mindset but they couldn’t find that big score from somebody that would have propelled them up to giving the target a real scare. Four players got past 35 and nobody made 60 so they need those who get in to go big.
Team News
The general consensus is that New Zealand will want to get the series won before they make changes which would mean the likes of Colin de Grandhomme would remain on the sidelines.
Bangladesh will be forced into a change as Mushfiqur Rahim has been ruled out of the rest of the series with the hamstring injury he picked up in the first match. Nural Hasan is set to replace him while Bangladesh could bring another spinner into their side.
Saxton Oval
The will be the eighth ODI at this ground and the ninth one follows at the weekend. New Zealand have played four of the previous matches with a couple of wins, a defeat and a no result while Bangladesh won their only match here against Scotland in the World Cup last year.
The wicket was often on the slower side in those previous matches but the short boundaries certainly make up for that and often ensure that we get some good scoring.
Betting
If Bangladesh wanted the venue to take New Zealand on at they have it here and it will be interesting to see if they can make the improvement needed to level up the series. I certainly think they are value to do it but I fear New Zealand might get away in the last 15-20 overs again.
If they do that will help the sixes flow although I don’t see the sixes needing any help. There were 16 sixes in the opening ODI on a ground much bigger than this one is so how we have a line of 9.5 for this one I’ve no idea.
With the likes of Guptill, Neesham, Tamim and Mahmudullah all having more to give we should see another double figure sixes total here for the fifth time in six full ODIs. The one that didn’t have double figures had nine so there is a lot to like about the overs.
Tips
WON – Back Over 9.5 sixes for a 4/10 stake at 1.95 with Coral
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