DHAKA, Dec 29, 2023 (BSS)-Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto once again

won the all important toss and without any hesitation sent New Zealand in to
bat first in the second T20 game as his side aims to seal the three-match
series at Bay Oval in Maunt Maunganui today.

The Tigers lead the series 1-0 following its five-wicket victory in the first
match.

But they received a blow ahead of the match when Liton Das who made match-
winning 42 not out, was ruled out of the series with hamstring injury.

Soumya Sarkar also sustained an injury on his right hand while taking a catch
in the first match but the X-ray revealed no damage. He however made it to
the second match despite the pain.

Liton meanwhile was replaced by Shamim Patwari for Bangladesh's only change
from the first game.

New Zealand, aiming to level the series, remained unchanged.

Bangladesh have showed its growth in this format lately, in which they were
traditionally vulnerable, by sweeping three-match series against T20 World
Champions England at home and thereafter they beat Ireland and Afghanistan to
win seven out of eight matches they played in this year.

If they win this game, they will not only confirm the series for the first
time on New Zealand soil but also would seal their fourth straight series
victory for the first time in their history.

Line Ups:

Bangladesh: Soumya Sarkar, Rony Talukdar(w), Najmul Hossain Shanto(c), Shamim
Hossain, Towhid Hridoy, Afif Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Tanzim Hasan Sakib,
Shoriful Islam, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman

New Zealand: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert(w), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark
Chapman, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner(c), Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Ish
Sodhi, Ben Sears