- Gabba pitch suits Zimbabwe
- Bangaldesh no 1.635/8 chance
- Raza 17/2 for man of match
Bangladesh v Zimbabwe
Sunday 30 October, 03:00
TV: Live on Sky Sports
Team news
The Bangladesh coach has opined that his team 'can't slog'. Which is a problem in T20. It is the game. He's not wrong, either. They have only one player - Soumya Sarkar - striking at more than 140 in this tournament.
Shakib-al-Hasan, their supposed star, has eight runs in two innings and Mustafizur Rahman, who is always picking up franchise contracts, zero wickets.
Possible XI: Shanto, Sarkar, Das, Shakib, Afif, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mosaddek, Nurul, Taskin, Mustafizur, Mahmud
Zimbabwe pulled off a superb win over Pakistan to boost their semi-final chances. It was flagged sometime ago that they were the unit most likely to make a stunning run.
They are a bowling team, no bones about it. Defending 130 on a flat one in Perth against Pakistan was a fine achievement. They are going to struggle for the 160s with the bat, thiugh.
Probable XI: Madhevere, Ervine, Shumba, Williams, Raza, Chakabva, Burl, Jongwe, Evans, Ngarava, Muzarabani
Pitch report
A Gabba track with som pace and carry is likely to suit Zimbabwe's bowlers more than Bangladesh. Nine of the last 20 games at the venue have seen first-innings score of 160 or more. Ten were won by the side batting second. This should be an udners game if the par line is in the low 150s.
How to play
Bangladesh are 1.635/8 and Zimbabwe 2.6613/8. That is not a missprint. Simply put, the prices are the wrong way round whatever metric of formbook you want to look at.
In this tournament Zimbabwe have been playing competitive, aggressive cricket. Bangladesh have been thrashed by South Africa and should have lost to Netherlands.
In the summer Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh 2-1 in a T20 series. They are the better side and we're very surprised Zimbabwe are not favourites.
Tops value
Regis Chakabva has opened in this tournament and he could return to that slot so the 9/1 Sportsbook offer about top Zim bat is big. Mehidy Hasan Miraz is a solid middle-order option for top bangaldesh bat at 14s.
Sikandar Raza is 9/2 for top Zim bat which is a little cheap given he bats at No 5. He is 17/2 for man of the match.