Zimbabwe won the ODI series although Bangladesh did manage to win the final match to give themselves some momentum. I am leaning towards the visitors in the shorter format.
Key Stats - Bangladesh Lost ODI Series
- Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett has scored 34, 48*, 64*, 63* & 97* in his last 7 T20Is.
- Zimbabwe’s Brad Evans scored 58* & 50 in the last 2 ODIs against Bangladesh.
- Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani has 10 wickets in 4 innings against Zimbabwe.
- Bangladesh’s Tanzid Hasan has scored 57 & 94 in his last 2 knocks.
- Bangladesh’s Towhid Hridoy averages 57.9 (289 runs) in his last 9 T20I innings.
- Bangladesh’s Shoriful Islam took 4/44 in the win over Zimbabwe in the 3rd T20I.
Dominant Tigers
Bangladesh lead 4-1 in their last five T20I matches against Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe Confident after ODI Win
Zimbabwe enter the T20I series with confidence after beating Bangladesh 2-1 in the ODI series at home. They will now look to carry that momentum into the shorter format.
Their batting has enough quality through the top and middle order to produce strong totals. Ben Curran was one of Zimbabwe’s best performers in the ODI series, scoring 131 runs in three innings at an average of 65.50. Brad Evans also impressed, making 111 runs at a strike rate of 126.14, including seven sixes.
Sikandar Raza and Brian Bennett had quieter ODI returns, scoring 45 and 23 runs respectively, but both remain dangerous players and will be eager to take advantage of the batting conditions in Bulawayo.
Zimbabwe’s bowling attack also looks disciplined. Richard Ngarava was outstanding in the ODIs, taking six wickets in two matches at 14.33, while also adding a useful 27 with the bat. Evans claimed five wickets in three games and Blessing Muzarabani was economical, picking up four wickets in two matches at 14.25. Raza managed only one wicket in the ODI series and will be looking for a greater impact in the T20Is.
Bangladesh need to Bounce Back
Bangladesh begin the T20I series hoping for a strong showing after a difficult recent run form in T20Is, albeit against tough opposition. They were recently beaten 3-0 by Australia in T20Is, drew 1-1 with New Zealand but also lost the ODI series 2-1 to Zimbabwe in the last week.
Their batting will need more consistency from a young group. Tanzid Hasan Tamim was their standout batter in the ODI series, scoring 159 runs in three innings at an average of 53.00. Stand-in captain Towhid Hridoy will be important in the middle order after making 85 runs, while Nurul Hasan added stability with 69 runs.
Bangladesh do have quality in their bowling attack. Nahid Rana was excellent in the ODI series, taking seven wickets in two matches at 9.86. Shoriful Islam also impressed with four wickets in two games, while Mustafizur Rahman’s T20 experience will be vital as Bangladesh look for early control and late-innings discipline.
Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh 1st ODI Predicted Lineups
The conditions at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo are expected to be mostly clear, with temperatures around 24°C. The pitch is usually good for T20 cricket, allowing batters to score freely once set, while still offering bowlers some assistance. With average scores of 155 batting first and 132 chasing, setting a target may be slightly easier than pursuing one.
Zimbabwe (possible XI): Ben Curran, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brian Bennett, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Clive Madande, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani.
Bangladesh (possible XI): Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Mohammed Saif Hassan, Towhid Hridoy (c), Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Nurul Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam.