Bangladesh will look to go 2-0 up when they meet Pakistan in the second ODI of the three-match series today at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur in a contest that will test their pace formula.
Home advantage was the buzzword in the Bangladesh camp ahead of this series. With qualification to the next year’s ICC ODI World Cup still on the line, skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz too had emphasised before the series that while they needed more matches on true wickets, ensuring direct qualification will remain in focus.
Eventually, rather than depending on a typical low and slow Mirpur turner, the hosts prepared a sporting wicket and banked on their pacers to do the trick -- a gutsy call considering Pakistan also has plenty of quality pacers.
Bangladesh were rewarded for their courage in the first ODI on Wednesday, as they won it by a comprehensive eight-wicket margin. A win today will not only seal the series for the Tigers but also help them climb up to ninth position from 10th in the ICC ODI rankings.
The first ODI was virtually decided by a fiery spell from Bangladesh’s speedster Nahid Rana. Pakistan, relatively inexperienced with four debutant batters in the XI, were derailed by Rana’s raw pace, in particular his short stuff, mixed with deliveries that moved around on an uncharacteristic Mirpur wicket that provided pace and bounce.
However, before Rana joined the attack in the 10th over to begin a seven-over spell which yielded five wickets and effectively decided the fate of the match, all had looked pretty well for Pakistan.
Bangladesh’s opening bowling pair of Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman could not get any early breakthroughs. Especially Mustafizur, Bangladesh’s death over specialist, lacked that extra zip with the new ball.
To solve this problem in the second ODI, the management has the option of bringing in left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam in place of leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, who bowled just two overs in the last game. But it remains to be seen if the Tigers would tinker with the winning combination.
The host batters did not get tested altogether after Pakistan had been bowled out for their lowest-ever score against Bangladesh in the first ODI, 114. Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim helped himself to a brisk 67 off 42 balls against a Pakistan attack that looked toothless.
The poor showing of the Pakistan pace attack, led by skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi, has improved Haris Rauf’s chances of making it into the XI today.
Playing and winning on a sporting surface, like the one in the first ODI where pacers get rewarded for bending their backs and batters could play expansive shots, is the perfect scenario for Bangladesh, who are set to play majority of their upcoming home ODIs at Mirpur, confirmed BCB sources.
However, if Pakistan, who would be better prepared for the surface this time around, put up a better show with the bat and ball today, this formula would be put to the test.
