ZIM vs BAN: T20 Is A 24-Ball Puzzle That You Need To Solve - Allan Donald

Former South Africa pace bowler Allan Donald dissected a bowler’s role in T20 cricket as Bangladesh are equipping to face Zimbabwe in the third and final T20I series on Tuesday.

The series is currently tied at 1-1 with Zimbabwe winning the series opener by 17 runs only for The Tigers to bounce back in the next game and secure a seven-wicket victory.

Bangladesh pace bowlers in Zimbabwe T20Is so far

Bangladesh’s pace bowling trio comprising Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam and Taskin Ahmed leaked 137 runs in their combined 12 overs at a collective economy of 11.41. The Craig Ervine-led side posted 205/3 after Wesley Madhevere (67) and Sikandar Raza (65) struck crucial fifties.

Mustafizur and Shoriful had a combined economy rate of 8.38 in a match sans Taskin. Bangladesh restricted the Africans to 135/8 and eventually chased the score with 15 balls to spare.

T20 is a 24-ball puzzle that you need to solve: Allan Donald

Donald, who is the bowling coach of Bangladesh, wants the bowlers to be street smart in the shortest format of the game and decode the method to come hard against the batters.

“South Africa were all out for only 90 runs against England the other day. So, T20 is such a game that teaches you harsh lessons. And in this game, I see a 24-ball puzzle that you need to solve and that’s being street smart,” Donald said ahead of the third T20I match. 

“That is something we are teaching and giving a lot of emphasis on. I think it’s the small steps that matter as I don’t care what type of team you are on. Yesterday, we had a good start. We have got to do that tomorrow [Tuesday] as well as we showed how smart we can be and we are expecting to bounce back as we did in the last game on Sunday. Look, it’s the final tomorrow and it will be played on the pitch of the first game and it should be a cracker of a game and I’m looking forward to it,” he added.

Bangladesh wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan, who led the visitors in the first two T20Is in absence of regular skipper Mahmudullah, will miss the series-decider game owing to a finger injury. Off-spinner Mossaddek Hossain was named captain for the third  T20I against Zimbabwe.

Also Read: ZIM vs BAN: Veteran Earns Recall As Bangladesh Announce Captain For Series Decider