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Advantage Bangladesh

Sports Reporter
Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim had a spring in his step when he entered the pre-match press conference at Mirpur yesterday. The calm demeanour in which he handled yesterday's press conference - which even witnessed the 24-year-old sharing a light moment with the media - depicted the confidence that Mushfiqur had ahead of the second Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
And why wouldn't he be? Despite the draw in the first Test in Chittagong, the hosts did seem to be a step ahead of their opponents in the first Test. They almost bowled New Zealand to a below-par score, they took the first innings lead, courtesy of a brilliant century from Mominul Haque and the Test ended with Shohag Gazi's record-breaking performance, which had a huge boost on the team's morale.
Going into the second Test, Mushfiqur said something that Bangladeshi Test captains don't often get to say. He stated that the Tigers were at a more 'advantageous' position ahead of the game and that the visitors were under more pressure.
"There are many levels in drawing Tests. The way we drew the Test we had the upper hand in almost all the aspects. We dominated the draw. From that perspective yes we have the mental advantage. But they [New Zealand| have the ability to come back," said Mushfiqur.
"I think they are under more pressure than us. They are above us in the rankings and they will never want to lose against us and it's our home conditions. So they are under more pressure,'1 he added.
As long as the hosts keep things 'simple' Bangladesh can get a rare series win is what the captain believes.
“From our perspective we just need to play our natural game. Our application needs to be right, that's all. We need to keep our concept simple. We don't need to think of anything else. As simple as it can be," said Mushfiqur.
Unless a major overhaul takes place, Bangladesh are likely to go in with the same team that played the first Test Mushfiqur, who was disappointed with the wicket at Chittagong, hopes that the pitch at Dhaka will assist his spinners.
Traditionally Mirpur has been an even ground for both the spinners and the pacers. Of the 261 dismissals by bowlers in the ground, 135 were taken by spinners and 126 by pacers.
“We will check out the wicket tomorrow [Monday] morning and the conditions and then take a final call regarding the combination of the team, but we are more or less going to go in with seven batsmen and four bowlers," hinted Mushfiqur.
The team put up a positive performance in the first Test without major contributions from their traditional gamechangers - the likes of Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal and Nasir Hossain. The captain however, told that both Shakib and Tamim have had good runs at Mirpur and hopes for a change in the performance.
With 28 wickets and 804 runs Shakib is both the highest wicket-taker and run-scorer at the ground. Tamim with 587 runs is the second highest run-scorer.
With so much going in Bangladesh's favour it seems that only a win would satisfy Mushfiqur and company. As the captain himself put it, “It's a big opportunity. If we win this match, we win the series. That is our only focus."