Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu, Sports Reporter
IT all comes down to one match as Zimbabwe and Bangladesh face off in a winner-takes-all third and final Twenty20 International at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo today.
With the series locked at 1-1, both teams have everything to play for after sharing the opening two matches. Zimbabwe won the first encounter by 32 runs before Bangladesh bounced back with a 34-run victory on Friday to force the decider.
For the Chevrons, today’s match presents an opportunity to cap a successful home tour by completing a clean sweep of the three formats after winning the one-off Test and the three-match One-Day International series.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be desperate to salvage pride by claiming the T20I series after falling short in both the Test and ODI contests.
Zimbabwe will be looking for a vastly improved display in the field after six dropped catches proved costly in the second match, allowing Bangladesh to recover from several reprieves and post a winning total. Cleaner fielding and sharper execution in key moments will be crucial if the hosts are to regain the upper hand.
The home side will once again rely on the pace trio of Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans to provide early breakthroughs, while captain Sikandar Raza’s all-round influence will be central to Zimbabwe’s chances.
Brian Bennett will be expected to continue giving Zimbabwe explosive starts at the top of the order, while Ryan Burl, Dion Myers and Milton Shumba will be eager to make meaningful contributions with the bat.
Bangladesh will again pin their hopes on openers Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan after their century opening stand in the second T20I laid the platform for victory. Their bowling attack, led by leg-spinner Rishad Hossain and all-rounder Mahedi Hasan, will be aiming to repeat the disciplined performance that dismantled Zimbabwe’s batting line-up.
Queens Sports Club has produced two entertaining contests so far, with conditions offering assistance to both batters and bowlers at different stages of the day. Winning the key moments — whether through taking catches, building partnerships or executing plans at the death — is expected to determine who walks away with the series.
