New Zealand vs Bangladesh Prediction: New Zealand resting important players

New Zealand and Bangladesh are going head to head in the 1st Match of the T20 Series at Mclean Park, Napier, New Zealand on 27 Dec 2023. New Zealand have a better record in T20 against Bangladesh in recent games. Who will win this game of cricket?

The preceding ODI series between New Zealand and Bangladesh ended in New Zealand's victory, and now New Zealand has the opportunity to replicate that success in the shorter format. With their well-balanced squad and home advantage, they are the favorites to win both the upcoming match and the series. 

All attention will be on Daryl Mitchell, who recently secured a lucrative contract with the Chennai Super Kings in the 2024 IPL auction. This match provides a significant opportunity for Mitchell to showcase his abilities with both batting and bowling to his new team. 

Mitchell's role as an all-rounder becomes crucial in the absence of key players Kane Williamson and Kyle Jamieson, both of whom were originally selected but later withdrew. Alongside Mitchell, there will be another talented all-rounder, Jimmy Neesham, to support the team. 

Although Ben Sears hasn't played international cricket for over a year, he is determined to make an impression against the team he made his debut against in 2021. Paired with Jacob Duffy, Sears can learn valuable lessons from experienced players Tim Southee and Adam Milne throughout this series.

Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert (wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee (c), Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi

Bangladesh may have lost the recent ODI series against New Zealand, but they managed to salvage some pride with a convincing nine-wicket win in the final match. This victory should provide them with a significant boost of confidence as they prepare for the upcoming T20Is. They will be looking to outshine the home favorites in unfamiliar conditions.

Shoriful Islam proved to be a standout performer for Bangladesh during the ODI series, taking six wickets in three matches. His impressive performance has earned him a place in the T20I squad as well. With his good pace and consistent ability to bowl threatening lines and lengths, Islam has the potential to carry his success from the ODI format into T20 cricket this month.

On the batting front, Soumya Sarkar is a player to watch out for. He had a strong showing during the ODIs, scoring a total of 173 runs in three innings. Notably, he played a remarkable innings of 169 runs in the second match in Nelson, showcasing his ability to perform well in challenging conditions in New Zealand.

Despite a disappointing campaign in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, Bangladesh is determined to succeed in the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup. A victory over New Zealand in the T20Is, or at the very least, a strong performance, would demonstrate to fans and critics alike that they are serious contenders in both the immediate and long-term future.

Litton Das (wk), Rony Talukdar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed , Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud

The first T20I will take place at McLean Park, the same venue where Bangladesh emerged victorious in the final ODI a few days ago. In the previous five T20Is played at this ground, the team batting first won two matches, the team bowling first won two matches, and one match ended in a tie. In three out of the last four T20Is, the captain who won the toss elected to bowl first.

The last three matches in the T20I competition at this ground resulted in first-innings scores of 173, 160, and 173. Therefore, a score of 170 or more in the first innings can be considered competitive. The shorter square boundaries at McLean Park provide an opportunity for batters to target the spinners. As there is no forecast for adverse weather conditions on the day of the match, it is expected that the full fixture will be played.

Considering that New Zealand is missing a few key players, Bangladesh, who triumphed over them in the final ODI, has a good chance of winning this match.