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New Zealand vs Bangladesh: First T20 Preview

Trent Boult falls over the boundary ropes

The Bangladesh tour of New Zealand shifts focus to the shortest international format on Sunday 28 March.

Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

New Zealand comfortably won the ODI series but T20I cricket provides an environment where gaps between teams can be closed by individual brilliance.

New Zealand vs Bangladesh  | Sunday 28 March 2021 | Seddon Park, Hamilton | 03:00

New Zealand 

Since the restart of international cricket in late 2020, New Zealand have won three successive T20I series including a first-ever bilateral series triumph over Australia.

The Black Caps will be building towards the T20I World Cup with special consideration required given the likelihood of teams picking expanded squads for the tournament.

Trent Boult will be rested for the series which affords Hamish Bennett another opportunity to continue the white-ball revival of his career.

Batsman Finn Allen is in line to make his international debut after enjoying a stellar T20 Smash season on the New Zealand domestic scene.

Bangladesh 

Bangladesh have lost all four of the T20Is they have played in New Zealand and start as decided underdogs, they do sport game-turning players who could make the series interesting though.

Mahmudullah is a player familiar to New Zealand cricket fans after his stunning ICC Champions Trophy hundred that helped Bangladesh record a shock victory. He will be tasked with holding together a relatively young and inexperienced batting lineup as the skipper.

Fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman should play a key role for the tourists who will need early wickets to keep the dangerous Black Caps batting in check.

Mohammad Naim is among the players trying to establish himself in the team ahead of the World Cup and will be eager to build on a solid start.

Verdict: New Zealand

The hosts are the hot pick.

Written by James Richardson.

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