Bangladesh cricket is due to play 3 matches ODI and 3 matches T20 series against New Zealand during this present tour. New Zealand already humiliated the tourists with white wash in ODI series. Bangladesh losing the first Match at Siddon Park Hamilton and the second match at Maclean Park Napier is poised to embrace yet another comprehensive T20 series white wash. The two teams would appear for the third match at Iconic Eden Park Auckland for the day night match tomorrow 1st April 2021. Off course the younger players appearing in the team has changed the complexion of the team quite a bit. We will explore the possibilities of team tigers of redeeming them with a win. If that happens Bangladesh can leave down under with some pride. 

World cricket knows by now how Duckworth-   Lewis – Stern Method (DL) confusion marred the competitive flavor of the Bangladesh New Zealand T20 match at Maclean Park, Napier. New Zealand batting first on the pacey bouncy wicket under cloud cover and occasional drizzles scored 173/5 in 17.5 overs. Match referee delayed calculating DL revised target for Bangladesh in truncated 16 overs. Somehow someone mentioned it as 148 in 16 overs. Bangladesh virtually started their innings with their destination unknown. The match was interrupted after 1.3 overs and the revised target was known as 171 in 16 overs. Such an incident had never happened before and should not happen in future. The match is now a part of history an event of the past. After another shocking defeat by 66 runs at Hamilton Bangladesh looked far more completive at Napier. Rain in two ways disadvantaged Bangladesh. Before the rain Bangladesh was in complete control. After the rain the momentum was lost. Flamboyant Philips and Mitchell batting aggressively took the match away from Bangladesh of rain affected slippery ground.  Despite of being presented with a daunting task Bangladesh did not die wondering. Batting brilliantly Soumya and Naim took the team on the run way for take-off. But the jet engine after gathering momentum was grounded after losing their wicket. The tall target of 171 in 16 overs remained out of site as none could power Bangladesh across. Winning by 28 runs New Zealand wrapped up the series. Bangladesh can derive lot of positives. Shoriful and Mahedy bowled brilliantly. Taskin was fast and furious. Bangladesh fielded with lot of energy and purpose. Naim batted bravely yet again and Soumya after a while appeared in his own self. With nothing to loose Bangladesh can go all out for winning the last match of the tour. 

What Eden Park Would Offer?
Bangladesh plays the third and final match of the T20 series, virtually their last match in New Zealand in 2921 at Eden park. Eden park has the largest stadium of New Zealand. We know that Auckland is the largest city. The park is 3KM south west of the city on the boundary between the suburbs of Mount Eden and Kingsland. Rugby Union is played in winter and cricket in the summer. It was venue of 1992 and 2015 Cricket world cup. It will also host the 2021 Women’s Cricket World Cup and 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup. The opening match of the 2023 FIFA Women's Soccer World Cup will also be played there. 

With 60,000 capacity, Eden Park is by far the biggest in New Zealand. The record attendance was 61,2440 in New Zealand VS South Africa match held on 1st September 1956.  The first test at the venue was played between Zealand and England, 14-17 February, 19530. The last test was also played between New Zealand and England 22-26 March 2016., First ODI was played between New Zealand and India on 22 February 1976. Incidentally the last ODI was also played the two teams on 8 February 2020. First T20 I was held between New Zealand and Pakistan on 17 February 2015 and the last was held between New Zealand and West Indies on 18 December 2020. 

The ground hosted the semifinal of 1992 World Cup between Pakistan and New Zealand. Imran Khan’s Cornered Tigers won by 4 wickets. Inzimam Ul Haque’s breezy 60 off 37 balls won the tight match for them. The ground also hosted 2015 World Cup Semi Final between New Zealand and South Africa, New Zealand won on the penultimate ball. 

Eden Park is also famous as Indian cricket's maestro Sachin Tendulkar made his debut as opener in ODI in march 1994. He made explosive 82 off 49 balls.

The ground is like a picture post card with stands all round and have wonderful flood light facilities.

It will be a wonderful last match on this historic ground for Bangladesh if they can rewrite their cricket history winning the first ever match in New Zealand.

What Should Bangladesh Do? 
One handicap Bangladesh has in T20 and ODI that it lacks bit hitters powering their innings in the last power play.  It also lacks bowlers who can bowl controlled Yorker and vary pace smartly in death overs. However, Soumya back in his blazing best is good news. Naim is a natural stroke maker. He is young and brave. Liton must play at least one good innings. The absence of Mushfique as the pivot of Bangladesh batting is a great problem. MahmuUllah must carry all burden of the batting. Mosaddeq Hossain Saikat if match fit should be played. This ground is big. His spin would also be useful in addition to his spin bowling. He can come in place of Mithun not looking good at this moment. Would suggest Playing Rubel alongside of Taskin and Shoriful. Saifuddin leaked to many runs as he cannot bowl consistently well. Nasum, Mehedi and Mosaddeq in between them can create issues for New Zealand bowling after Taskin, Shoriful and Rubel getting some early break through. We do not thin a win is impossible and if that happens on the great ground of Eden Park it will be wonderful memory to take back home for Bangladesh. But for that Bangladesh has to play consistently well. In the last match Bangladesh pushed New Zealand back to the wall. But it failed to press on and allowed them to take the match away playing some loose cricket at crunch time. 

Bangladesh must go all out to try and avoid yet another comprehensive white wash. It is already too many to digest. 

BDST: 1230 HRS, MAR 31, 2021
SMS