Mitchell Marsh won the toss in Chattogram this morning and, without much fuss, chose to have first use of a dry, used surface. Australia are 1–0 up in the three-match T20I series, so runs on the board feel the safest route to wrapping things up early.
Only one adjustment for the tourists: Aaron Hardie replaces Xavier Bartlett, adding another proper batter at No. 8 and a few handy seam-up overs if required. It is the West Australian’s first international outing since last August in Durban. Spin-bowling all-rounders Nikhil Chaudhary and Joel Davies, both on debut two nights ago, keep their spots. They will again share the middle-overs workload with Adam Zampa, whose four quiet overs proved decisive in the opener.
Bangladesh shuffle two cards of their own. Fast bowler Nahid Rana – his second cap after a lone appearance in Dubai 14 months back – comes in for the rested Shoriful Islam, while left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed replaces Mahedi Hasan. Towhid Hridoy continues to stand in as captain; Litton Das remains sidelined by a hamstring twinge.
The hosts will hope Rana’s skiddy pace jolts an Australian top order that meandered to 48 for 3 on Wednesday before Tim David’s late injection. Nasum, meanwhile, is expected to attack the rough outside the right-hander’s off stump, especially against a line-up stacked with southpaws.
Quick scorecard for those keeping tabs:
Bangladesh: Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Parvez Hossain Emon (wk), Towhid Hridoy (c), Shamim Hossain, Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana.
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Cooper Connolly, Matt Renshaw, Tim David, Nikhil Chaudhary, Joel Davies, Aaron Hardie, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson.
First ball is due at 3 pm local; rain, thankfully, is not in the conversation.
