Zimbabwe can complete an impressive comeback in their Twenty20 series with Bangladesh with victory in the final match on Friday. The tourists were below par in the opening two matches as their batsmen struggled to score runs and bowlers had problems stemming the flow.
However, they bounced back in game three to record a 31-run success and could finish the four-match series level if they can replicate that result in Khulna.
"I think the next game is very important because it now stands at 2-1," said batsman Malcolm Waller – who scored 49 in the last match. We will try to do exactly what we did on Wednesday: play our best cricket, do the things right and hopefully come out on top and level the series."
Zimbabwe will look to Graeme Cremer again after his match-winning display with the ball earlier this week, the spinner taking 3-18 from his four overs. He will be supported by Brian Vitori again, despite the left-arm seamer being reported to the ICC for a suspect bowling action in the third game. Vitori will undergo tests on his action, but is able to play while those checks are completed.
Sabbir Rahman could hold the key to Bangladesh's hopes after a half century in the previous outing, the explosive batsman having scored 139 runs so far at 69.50. The hosts took the brave step of blooding some uncapped players in the third game and it backfired as they slumped to defeat.
Captain Mashrafe Mortaza believes that decision was the right one, though, and intends to give the likes of Abu Hider, Mosaddek Hossain and Muktar Ali another chance in the final match. "I don't think there's extra pressure on us," he said. "We have played under more pressure in the past. We have to keep planning and look to win. We were not up to the mark with our planning on the field [in the third game]. We lost because we didn't play according to the plans.
"As a captain I always give importance to winning. We didn't want to lose, that's for sure. Everyone was given a specific plan but they couldn't put it into action."
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