Australia captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and opted to bat first in the second T20I against Bangladesh at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram on Friday. The visitors lead the three-match series 1-0 after a convincing victory in the opener.
Match Overview
Australia will look to seal the three-match T20I series when they take on Bangladesh in the second match. The visitors lead the series 1-0 after a convincing victory in the opener, leaving the hosts with no margin for error in what has become a must-win encounter.
Match Details
- Date: June 19, 2026
- Time: 2:00 PM Local Time (8:00 AM GMT)
- Venue: Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium, Chattogram
Australia's Dominance in First T20I
Australia produced a clinical all-round performance in the first T20I to gain the upper hand in the series. After restricting Bangladesh to 131, the visitors chased down the target with four wickets in hand and 10 balls to spare. The star performers were Australia's spinners, who dismantled the Bangladesh batting lineup. For the first time in T20I history, Australian spinners claimed nine wickets in a single innings, with youngster Joel Davies (3/17) and experienced leg-spinner Adam Zampa (3/18) leading the charge.
Another major positive for the tourists was the form of Cooper Connolly. The young all-rounder has enjoyed a breakthrough tour, carrying his confidence from a brilliant 149 in the final ODI into the T20I series. Connolly's composed 47 off 27 balls ensured Australia's chase remained firmly on track.
Bangladesh's Struggles
Bangladesh showed promise during the powerplay in the opening match but once again struggled against quality spin in the middle overs. Several experienced batters, including stand-in captain Towhid Hridoy and Soumya Sarkar, failed to convert starts after attempting risky strokes against Australia's spin attack. With the series on the line, Bangladesh will need greater composure and smarter shot selection if they are to level the contest and force a decider.
Pitch and Conditions
The Chattogram surface is expected to assist spinners throughout the match. Unlike the traditionally pace-friendly venues seen elsewhere, the wicket is likely to be slower and offer significant turn, making stroke-making increasingly difficult as the innings progresses. With the match scheduled as a daytime fixture, teams batting first could hold an advantage. A total in the range of 160-170 is expected to be highly competitive. Weather conditions are forecast to remain clear, with no significant threat of rain during the game.
Team News
Bangladesh
Speedster Nahid Rana is expected to return to the playing XI to strengthen the pace attack alongside Taskin Ahmed. Meanwhile, Litton Das remains under observation due to a calf injury.
Australia
The visitors are unlikely to tinker with a winning combination and are expected to retain the spin-heavy strategy that proved highly effective in the opening match.
Playing XIs
Bangladesh (Playing XI): Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Parvez Hossain Emon (WK), Towhid Hridoy (C), Shamim Hossain, Abdul Saqlain, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana.
Australia (Playing XI): Mitchell Marsh (C), Josh Inglis (WK), Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Matt Renshaw, Nikhil Chaudhary, Aaron Hardie, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Spencer Johnson, Adam Zampa.
What They Said
Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said, "We got a good gauge of the conditions last time and want to set a total today. There's still room for improvement." He confirmed one change: Aaron Hardie comes in for Xavier Bartlett to add batting depth on this surface.
Bangladesh captain Towhid Hridoy said, "We need to work on our partnerships as a batting unit. Mahedi Hasan and Shoriful are not playing; Nahid Rana comes in. We want to give an opportunity to all."
