3rd T20I: Can Bangladesh avoid whitewash against Australia in Chattogram?
What's the story
Bangladesh and Australia are all set to clash in the third and final T20I of their series on Sunday, June 21. The match will be played at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram. The Aussies have already won the series 2-0, but Bangladesh will be looking to avoid a whitewash on home soil. Here we look at the match preview.
Team analysis
Bangladesh aim for consolation win
Bangladesh have struggled to match Australia's performance in this T20I series, unlike their ODI leg of the tour. However, they have put up a strong fight in both matches so far. In the last match, they narrowly missed chasing down a massive target of 197 runs by just seven runs. Meanwhile, the Aussies have adapted well to spin-friendly pitches, with their batsmen making crucial contributions and both spinners and pacers taking wickets.
Game conditions
Pitch report and other details
The pitch at Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium has been slow this series, favoring spinners and slower bowlers. Despite batters taking their time to score freely, Australia managed to post a total of over 190 in the previous match. Meanwhile, the weather in Chattogram is expected to be slightly unsettled with thunderstorms likely during the match, and temperatures hovering around 30°C. The game will get underway at 1:30pm IST.
Line-ups
Probable XIs of the 2 teams
Australia probable XI: Mitchell Marsh (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Matt Renshaw, Nikhil Chaudhary, Aaron Hardie, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Spencer Johnson, Adam Zampa. Bangladesh probable XI: Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Soumya Sarkar, Towhid Hridoy (c), Parvez Hossain Emon (wk), Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, Shamim Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman.
H2H
Here's the head-to-head record
The overall T20I head-to-head record between Bangladesh and Australia is heavily in favor of the latter. The two teams have met 13 times in this format, with Australia winning nine matches and Bangladesh four, as per ESPNcricinfo. Each of Bangladesh's four wins came in the five-match home series in 2021. Overall, the Tigers own four wins and as many defeats against the Aussies in home T20Is.
Performers
Here are the key performers
Matt Renshaw smashed four fours and five sixes en route to his 52-ball 89* in the last game. Tim David also made a mark in the previous game, scoring a 26-ball 45. Earlier in the series, Adam Zampa became the first Australian to complete 150 T20I wickets (now 151 at 20.47). Meanwhile, Mustafizur Rahman has amassed 160 scalps for Bangladesh in the format at 21.01.
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