Date:14/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/14/stories/2008101455501800.htm

Sport - Cricket

Third ODI today

CHITTAGONG: Both Bangladesh and New Zealand are emphasising batting will be most pivotal element in deciding the three-match limited-overs series.

Inspired by the shock win over the visitor in the opening match, Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful expects his batsman to fare better on Tuesday on a good wicket at Chittagong’s Birshresta Ruhul Amin Stadium.

Bangladesh won the first one-dayer by seven wickets after restricting New Zealand to just 201 for nine last week in Dhaka.

But the host lost the second match on Saturday by 75 runs — mostly due to a slow run rate chasing New Zealand’s 212 for nine. Bangladesh may play uncapped batsman Imrul Kayes in place of Mahmudullah Riad, while medium-pacer Mahbubul Alam may get his international debut, replacing Shahadat Hossain.

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum said his side also expected to get more runs out of the wicket and was more confident after taking time to adjust.

The teams (from): Bangladesh: Mohammad Ashraful, Mashrafee bin Murtaza, Tamim Iqbal, Zunaid Siddiqui, Shakib al Hasan, Nayeem Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riad, Abdur Razzak, Syed Rasel, Shahadat Hossain, Mahbubul Alam and Imrul Kayes.

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori, Grant Elliott, Daniel Flynn, Mark Gillespie, Gareth Hopkins, Jamie How, Michael Mason, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris and Ross Taylor. — AP