New Zealand in Bangladesh ODI series 2023

[Kriterion_BD]

Virtual A team series here with hardly 5-6 first teamers from both sides combined.

Curious to see if KW will be fit from the first game of the WC.

Going to a very interesting series as both teams flex their bench strength.

[Kriterion_BD]

My preferred Bangladesh lineup:

1) Tamim Sr
2) Tamim Jr
3) Liton Das
4) Anamul Haque
5) Towhid Hridoy
6) Mahmudullah
7) Mahedi Hasan
8) Rishad Hossain
9) Tanzim Hasan Sakib
10) Khaled Ahmed
11) Mustafizur Rahman

[Kriterion_BD]

Rain break in the middle of the 5th over and as play is about to resume, there is a massive crowd at Mirpur!

Now bear in mind, Bangladesh used to always play in front of a full stadium up to probably 2015 or so. But the last several years crowds have seemed markedly smaller, at least for the first few hours of a game.

Seeing a packed house for an ODI between two second string teams to me the only explanation is excitement due to the World Cup. The WC is obviously a time when even non-fans start to tune in, and lukewarm fans become die hards for a month.

All in all good to see.

[Kriterion_BD]

Just woke up and see NZ have been bowled out for 254.

Lot of bounce and live grass on this Dhaka wicket...first one was a rank turner apparently.

Methinks 255 is going to be a very competitive target in this conditions with the likes of Ferguson, Boult, and Jamieson in the attack. Will be a decent test for the WC, unlike the first pitch.

Hoping both Tamims (no relation, btw) get amongst the runs, and Towhid continues his run of good form.