Match facts
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Start time 1500 local (0900 GMT)
01:43
We want to keep our form on a roll – Ronchi
Big picture
Bangladesh are carrying the most heart-breaking result on their back, but now take on the form team of the competition. New Zealand, who are in the semi-finals after three consecutive wins, have relied on combined efforts with both bat and ball, rather than individual performances.
New Zealand have read conditions and balanced their side well on pitches that have primarily suited their spinners, and leaving out Tim Southee and Trent Boult has been seen as a right move. Legspinner Ish Sodhi, who has been a revelation with his loop and control, and Mitchell Santner’s have produced the goods when required.
However, Martin Guptill has been New Zealand’s shining light with the bat, having scored 125 runs with the next being Corey Anderson’s 58. The likes of Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Colin Munro have struck cameos and will require their services in the knockouts.
Bangladesh’s bowling attack has their work cut out with the absence of key figures. Mashrafe Mortaza and Shakib Al Hasan’s economy rate is directly proportional to the returns produced by Mustafizur Rahman and Al-Amin Hossain.
Their batsmen, particularly Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, will have to distance themselves from their nightmare shots in Bangalore. Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar will have to finish the jobs they start. For Bangladesh to beat New Zealand for the first time in T20Is, a lot has to go their way. They can’t leave it to chance, not at least against Kane Williamson’s side.
New Zealand will hope that Corey Anderson, who occupies a vital role in the side, finds some form ahead of the knockouts © IDI/Getty Images
Form guide
(last five completed matches, most recent first)
New Zealand WWWWW
Bangladesh LLLWW
Watch out for
Corey Anderson has been used at No 4 in the recent past but has faced roughly 18 deliveries per innings. He has had to adjust to match situations and slow pitches, but he is more likely to get a better base than many No. 4s in this tournament.
Al-Amin Hossain has shown the tendency to bowl at least one bad ball in every over, reflected by his economy rate of 9.14 in six innings. His catching too has been a problem, but he has another chance to improve upon both aspects of his game.
Team news
New Zealand could unleash Trent Boult and Tim Southee, who have sat out all three of their group matches. Offspinner Nathan McCullum and batsman Henry Nicholls, who have played one game between them, could get a chance.
New Zealand (probable): 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Kane Williamson, 3 Colin Munro, 4 Corey Anderson, 5 Ross Taylor, 6 Luke Ronchi, 7 Grant Elliott, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Adam Milne, 9 Mitchell McClenaghan, 11 Ish Sodhi
Nurul Hasan could be given a game but given this is their last chance to register a win in the Super 10s, they are unlikely to tinker too much.
Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Sabbir Rahman, 4 Shakib Al Hasan, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Nurul Hasan (wk)/Mohammad Mithun, 8 Shuvagata Hom, 9 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 10 Al-Amin Hossain, 11 Mustafizur Rahman
Pitch and conditions
Kolkata had served up two batting pitches before a rank turner for the India-Pakistan game. Still ,there will be runs available if batsmen can be mindful of the turn. There’s no rain in the forecast but the temperature would hover around 35 degrees during the game.
Stats and trivia
- New Zealand have scored 50-plus runs in the Powerplay in the last two games while Bangladesh haven’t conceded less than 42 during the same period.
- Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal is the highest run-getter while Shakib Al Hasan is the joint-highest wicket-taker in the World T20 so far.
Quotes
“Recovery from last match is difficult (so soon) but boys have had some time. They have had 48 hours to think about it. Obviously you can’t return to it. I think you have to play hard.”
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza on moving from the horror one-run loss to India
“Most of the times when we have played in these conditions, they have been a really good opposition. I think the last game is just a highlight of how strong they can be in these conditions. I don’t think anyone can take them lightly.”
New Zealand legspinner Ish Sodhi on their opponents
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo