Match: New Zealand v Bangladesh, 1st T20I [For live scores, click here]
Date: 3 January, Tuesday
Time: 2pm SGT/11:30am IST/6am GMT
Venue: McLean Park, Napier
TV Channel: In Singapore, there is no live TV coverage of the match.
Live streaming: Sky Go
Overview
Bangladesh were hammered during the last time these two teams met. At the ICC World Twenty20 in India, New Zealand posted 145/8 in their final group game and bowled out Bangladesh for meagre 70 as only three of the Tigers' batsmen got to double-digit scores.
This time around, Mashrafe Mortaza's men are playing away from home and are heading into the three-match T20 series after facing a whitewash in the recently-concluded ODI series. It will be a tough ask for the visitors to turn things around, especially in the shortest format of the game, in which New Zealand are the number one-ranked side.
The 10th-ranked Bangladesh unit have to play out of their skins to defeat Kane Williamson's men on the road. New Zealand showed glimpses of their T20 expertise in India when they defeated Virat Kohli's men in the World T20. Despite the absence of injured Martin Guptill, New Zealand have a strong batting attack spearheaded by the skipper himself. Niel Broom, who replaces the injured opener, has been in good form, scoring 228 runs in three ODIs, which includes a ton.
Corey Anderson also returns to the T20I squad after a brief injury layoff. Trent Boult will be rested for the Napier clash while Tim Southee has been given a break from the T20I series. In the absence of their premier quicks, Colin de Grandhomme and .Lockie Ferguson will look to step up and seal a permanent slot in the line-up.
Bangladesh need their batsmen to step up after inconsistent performances in the ODI series. Sabbir Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan can be dangerous with the bat while the latter is an asset with the ball. Also, the Tigers have Mustafizur Rahman, who has impressed with his variations and yorkers at the death. The young left-arm pacer is the trump card if their side is to stand a chance against the hosts in the three-match series.
TV Schedule
Bangladesh: BTV
New Zealand: Sky Sport 1
Pakistan: PTV Sports
Middle East: OSN Sports
UK: Sky Sports 2
Sri Lanka: TNL TV
US: Willow TV
Team News
New Zealand
Possible XI: Williamson (c), Munro, Bruce, Broom, Neesham, Anderson, Ronchi (wk), Santner, Ferguson, Henry, Wheeler
Bangladesh
Possible XI: Mortaza (c), Tamim, Imrul, Sabbir, Mahmudullah, Shakib, Nurul (wk), Mosaddek, Taskin, Mustafizur, Rubel
