Bangladesh T20 Tri-Series 2019 Match 2, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe: Preview, predictions, likely XIs

Afghanistan and Zimbabwe will meet each other in the second match of the T20 Tri-Series at Mirpur. Zimbabwe would like to build on the spirited performance they produced in the first match which almost created an upset for the hosts.

Batting first in the 18-over per side match due to wet outfield, Zimbabwe recovered from 63/5 to 144/5 thanks to an unbeaten 81-run partnership between Ryan Burl and Tinotenda Mutombodzi. Both started slowly through singles and then launched an attack at the death overs to lift Zimbabwe. Burl was more attacking of the two and took 30 runs off a Shakib Al Hasan over to score a 32-ball 57. Mutombodzi remained not out on 27 off 26 balls. Taijul Islam became the first ever Bangladeshi bowler to pick up a wicket on the first ball on his T20 debut.

Bangladesh top order also collapsed as Kyle Jarvis and Tendai Chatara took two wickets each and at 60/6 it looked like another Bangladesh loss was on the cards. But youngster Afif Hossain played a brilliant innings to change the course of the match. The teenager batted with calm and paced the innings beautifully to add 82 runs with Mosaddek Hossain off 45 balls. Afif reached his first T20 fifty in his second match and was out for 52 off 26 balls. Mosaddek remained unbeaten on 30 as Bangladesh completed the chase in the 18^th over.

Zimbabwe will like to correct the small mistakes they made in the field against a strong Afghanistan side who will be confident after their memorable Test match win last week. They have some of their limited over specialists like Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Gulbadin Naib in the team and they look a strong outfit with attacking batsmen like Hazratullah Zazai and all-rounders Rahim Nabi and captain Rashid Khan. The focus would be to make a good start for their preparation for the T20 World Cup next year.

Head to Head

Afghanistan have played seven T20 Internationals against Zimbabwe and won all of them to have a dominating record against the African nation.

Key Players

Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)– Rashid Khan will again be a key and his four overs can change the match any day. He has already proved his mettle in the Test match and now would be eager to perform in the format he is most comfortable with.

Brendon Taylor (Zimbabwe)– Brendon Taylor is one of the most experienced Zimbabwe batsmen and the team will depend on him to provide a good start at the top of the order.

Likely XIs

Afghanistan: Hazratullah Zazai, Najeeb Tarakai, Asghar Afghan, Gulbadin Naib, Najibullah Zadran, Shafiqullah (WK), Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmed.

Zimbabwe: Brendan Taylor (wk), Hamilton Masakadza, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Timycen Maruma, Ryan Burl, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara, Neville Madziva, Regis Chakabva, Christopher Mpofu.

Prediction: Afghanistan to win and maintain dominance over Zimbabwe.