Do or die for Zimbabwe

Match facts

May 5, Bulawayo
Start time 0900 (0700 GMT)

While an all-round show from Shingi Masakadza would be welcome for Zimbabwe, they would hope for more control with the ball from him

Big Picture

If the ODI series follows the drift of the recently-concluded Test series, Zimbabwe should bounce back from the 121-run defeat in the first game and square the three-match ODI series.

They have a shorter turnaround, and have a lot to talk about in the team meetings and in the only net session they have on Saturday. It will start with the bowlers who conceded 18 wides, and were generally quite undisciplined. There was no relentless line and length like they showed in the first Test. Having said that, Shingi Masakadza was the only pace bowler in the first ODI who played in the Tests; though he picked up four wickets, he bowled the highest number of wides in the innings.

They will be boosted by the return of Kyle Jarvis and Brian Vitori, Bangladesh's nemesis from the 2011 tour. Regis Chakabva and Tinashe Panyangara have been dropped.

The Zimbabwe batsmen too have a lot to tighten up. Chakabva and Sikandar Raza left big gaps between bat and pad, and went at deliveries either too wide or too full. And it was also apparent that they have a tough time believing in themselves when captain Brendan Taylor doesn't stay at the crease for too long.

They can take a leaf out of Bangladesh's book of recovery. The visitors bounced back from a 335-run defeat and then more importantly, in the first ODI, didn't let a mini-slide - when they had lost four quick wickets - break their momentum.

Nasir Hossain will again be key and the management would look to Mohammad Ashraful to make a decent contribution. There will also be some pressure on Mominul Haque and Mahmudullah, both having got out in the thirties in the first game.

The team management was criticised for dropping Sohag Gazi, but the combination worked a treat as Ziaur Rahman and Shafiul Islam fired.

The onus will be on Bangladesh to complete the series win, and that would mean their unbeaten streak in ODI tournaments since the win against West Indies late last year remains intact.

Form guide

Zimbabwe: LLLLL (completed games, most recent results first)
Bangladesh: WWLWL

Players to watch

Shingi Masakadza put in an all-round show in the first ODI. He took four wickets, and later smashed a run-a-ball 33 when the batsmen had collapsed in a heap. More would be expected from the younger of the Masakadza brothers, though he would hope for a more controlled performance with the ball; he was lucky to pick up his first three wickets. Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Ashraful were out to leg-side deliveries while Mushfiqur Rahim chased a wide one. Mahmudullah was his fourth wicket, undone by a slower ball. Shingi will also have to cut down on the wides.

Much can be expected from Ziaur Rahman in the remainder of the ODI series because he has improved as the tour has progressed. Now he has a five-wicket haul in his kitty, which would boost his confidence with the bat too.

Team news

The home side had made seven changes from their previous ODI, so more modification to this team is unlikely. Kyle Jarvis has a case to come back into the XI, though, in place of Tinashe Panyangara. The presence of Brian Vitori in the squad means he too holds a chance of playing. Vusimuzi Sibanda is likely to replace the dropped Regis Chakabva.

Zimbabwe (possible) 1 Vusimuzi Sibanda, 2 Hamilton Masakadza, 3 Sikandar Raza, 4 Brendan Taylor (capt & wk), 5 Malcolm Waller, 6 Sean Williams, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Prosper Utseya, 9 Shingi Masakadza, 10 Brian Vitori, 11 Tendai Chatara/Kyle Jarvis.

Bangladesh's combination from the first ODI worked out fine, so they are unlikely to change anything. Mahmudullah and Mominul Haque would however remain watchful and be keen on making some more runs to keep their places intact.

Bangladesh (possible) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Mohammad Ashraful, 3 Mominul Haque, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Nasir Hossain, 7 Mahmudullah, 8 Ziaur Rahman, 9 Abdur Razzak, 10 Shafiul Islam, 11 Robiul Islam.

Pitch and conditions

The match will be played on a different surface on the same square of pitches, so similar conditions are expected. But due to the early start, both teams would be tempted to bowl first. The weather will continue to remain sunny but cool.

Stats and trivia

• Ziaur Rahman became only the fourth Bangladesh pace bowler to claim a five-wicket haul in ODIs. The others are Mashrafe Mortaza, Aftab Ahmed and Farhad Reza. Ziaur is also the fourth man to take five wickets against Zimbabwe as a third-change bowler in the attack
• Nasir Hossain is the only specialist batsman in the Bangladesh line-up to have an 80-plus strike rate in ODIs

Quotes

"Of course you have to believe that you can win the series, I believe we can. Bangladesh will be even harder to beat now that they have got confidence, they are a side that thrives on confidence."
Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor puts on a brave face

"I will try to bowl in similar areas in the second ODI. My target is to give 30-35 runs in 10 overs. I will get wickets if I can keep them tied up."
Bangladesh allrounder Ziaur Rahman on his bowling plan

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. He tweets here

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