Potential Group A decider on the cards
March 18, 2014
Start time 1930 local (1330 GMT)
Bangladesh have somewhat turned around their form in 2014, putting together three wins in a row in the last week. All three may have come against Associate Nations, but the last of those victories was necessary from the point of view of staying alive in the World T20. Their second game of Group A, against Nepal, will be yet another chance to reinstate the confidence within the team, and ensure a smooth passage to the main draw.
For Nepal however, the game against Bangladesh is what they have worked so hard for in the last 18 years. This is their first ever international match against a Test-playing nation, and one can only imagine how much they will be raring to have a crack at the hosts.
From their big win against Hong Kong on Sunday night, it became evident that their main batsmen and bowlers have the capacity to be mentally strong enough when they have to stand up. Gyanendra Malla and captain Paras Khadka added 80 runs for the third wicket, which recovered the innings from an iffy 36 for 2 to a strong 116 for 3.
Nepal would however look forward to Subash Khakurel and Sagar Pun to get them a better start, while Binod Bhandari and Sharad Vesawkar will be expected to push on a bit faster when their batting opportunities come. Nepal's bowling was great to watch too, particularly how well Khadka and Sompal Kami started with the new ball. Shakti Gauchan and Basant Regmi, the team's left-arm spinners, gave a good account of themselves as well.
One would expect Bangladesh to do well against left-arm spinners as well as a generally inexperienced attack. This could be one of the last few opportunities for their batsmen to gain a good habit of identifying areas in which they can keep hitting and finding boundaries. More importantly, Mushfiqur would want his top order to do the whole job, particularly Anamul Haque who has looked in good touch but seems to struggle to build on from a good innings.
Bangladesh's bowling too can push on, particularly the pace bowlers who racked up an impressive number of dot balls. They should bowl similarly against Nepal, but at the same time realise that T20 cricket is all about bowling good overs and not spells. Al-Amin Hossain bowled one poor over against Afghanistan and didn't get a bowl thereafter, so the attack would try to avoid such mishaps.
Nepal, however, are playing to create that mishap.
Afghanistan focused on keeping slim chances alive
March 18, 2014
Start time 1530 local (0930 GMT)
The build-up was all about creating heroes but, after illusion-shattering defeats in their opening games, Afghanistan and Hong Kong must get back to the more prosaic business of preserving reputations and dignity. Neither is yet out of the competition but the fates would have to be remarkably capricious for one of them to top the group from here.
Afghanistan's warrior mentality has given them an edge in their bull run through the Associate game but that combustibility is becoming a weakness at the highest level, where temperament and technique are more closely scrutinised. Only once have they not been heavily beaten at the World T20 and four innings out of five have disintegrated before lasting 20 overs.
Their confrontational approach against Bangladesh - expressed most clearly in the moment of handbags between Dawlat Zadran and Shakib Al Hasan - backfired fairly spectacularly but they should not need to get quite so worked up for Hong Kong, a team they beat comfortably in the semi-final of last year's Asian Cricket Council T20 Cup. After the disappointment of Sunday, the prospect of a first World T20 win will perhaps lift the mood.
Hong Kong came to the tournament with little to lose but the importance of needing to acquit themselves, rather than just turn up, was etched on to Jamie Atkinson's face after defeat to Nepal. Atkinson, the captain, had talked up Hong Kong's chances after rattling Zimbabwe and Netherlands during the warm-ups. But their nerves were jangled under floodlights at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium as Nepal got the better of his young side.
They can certainly play better with the bat and their attack may tease more mistakes from a gung-ho Afghanistan. Defeat will end their participation but they will be aiming to leave the World Cup wanting more, not less.
Points Table
First Round Group A
| Teams | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | N/R | Pts | Net RR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nepal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +4.000 |
| Bangladesh | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +2.900 |
| Afghanistan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2.900 |
| Hong Kong | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4.000 |
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