Recharged Tigers face wounded SA

Bangladesh will hope to reap rewards following the momentum gained from winning their campaign opener as Shakib Al Hasan and his troops take on South Africa in the two teams' second Super 12 fixture of the T20 World Cup at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia today.

South Africa, on the other hand, will be desperate to grab two crucial points after rain played spoilsport in their first match against Zimbabwe, leading to both teams sharing one point apiece. The Proteas were well on course for a comfortable win if bad weather did not intervene.

Despite the winning start initiated by a much-awaited productive opening stand, stitched by Soumya Sarkar and Najmul Hossain Shanto, the Bangladesh team management would want to see their middle order batting make the necessary impact this time. 

Unlike the middle order batters, barring Afif Hossain and Mosaddek Hossain, Bangladesh quicks would be soaring with confidence after their brilliant show against the Dutch side, spearheaded by Taskin Ahmed's career-best figures of four for 25. Rookie seamer Hasan Mahmud played a great supporting role with figures of four for 15, including a wicket-maiden, while Mustafizur Rahman displayed shades of his disciplined self as the Tigers successfully defended a modest total of 144.

Meanwhile, Shakib did not shy away from playing mind games during the pre-match press conference yesterday. The Bangladesh captain said that South Africa will be feeling pressure today after being deprived from a point in their Zimbabwe encounter, hinting on their desperation to work in favour of Bangladesh. 

"As they expected to get a point more [from their game against Zimbabwe earlier], this game is almost a do-or-die contest for them. So, they will be under a little pressure, whereas we will be going into this match after winning the first game [against the Netherlands]," Shakib told reporters.

On the contrary, South Africa pacer Lungi Ngidi opined that both teams will equally face pressure, while he added that the Proteas pacers will attack the Tigers batters upfront.

"From the games we watched, we have seen that pace has been the most successful, so we are going with our strengths. We would like to attack the Bangladesh side with our strength and that is the pace," said Ngidi.