Rawalpindi: New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl first against Bangladesh in the sixth match of the ICC Champions Trophy at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Skipper Mitchell Santner cited favourable conditions and the possibility of dew later in the evening as key factors behind the decision.
"We'll bowl first, looks like a good wicket. We trained a lot in different grounds, but there might be some dew in here. Two changes for us - Kyle Jamieson comes in for Nathan Smith, and Rachin Ravindra is back in," Santner stated at the toss.
He also emphasised the significance of playing in conditions similar to those they will encounter later in the tournament.
The Black Caps started their campaign in commanding fashion, benefiting from their preparation in the preceding tri-series in Pakistan. Their top order has been in good form, and despite a relatively inexperienced bowling attack, they appear well-suited to the conditions.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, face a must-win situation to stay alive in the tournament. While they have an impressive ODI record at home, their performances in global tournaments have often been inconsistent.
However, they showed resilience in their previous match against India, with Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali stitching together a crucial partnership after an early collapse. The rest of their batting lineup will aim to step up in this crucial encounter.
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto admitted that his side would have also preferred to bowl first. "Would have liked to bowl as well. Two changes for us - Mahmudullah returns, and Nahid Rana is in. Soumya Sarkar and Tanzid Hasan Shakib miss out. The way we fought back against India after that collapse gives us a lot of confidence," he said.
This match marks the first Champions Trophy fixture in Rawalpindi, and the result could have major repercussions for Group A. A win for New Zealand would eliminate hosts and defending champions Pakistan, while a Bangladesh victory would keep the group wide open.
Matches at this venue have traditionally been high-scoring affairs, and with every game in this tournament so far producing at least one centurion, fans can expect another run-fest today.
Teams:
New Zealand (Playing XI): Will Young, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Latham(w), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, William ORourke
