The stage is set for another thrilling encounter in Sylhet as Bangladesh take on the Netherlands in the 2nd T20I of their three-match series on Monday, September 1, 2025. With the Tigers securing an emphatic eight-wicket win in the series opener, Litton Das and his men enter this match brimming with confidence and eager to seal yet another T20I series victory in front of home fans.
For the Dutch side, this fixture holds far greater stakes. Having stumbled in their maiden T20I on Bangladeshi soil, Scott Edwards’ team must regroup quickly to keep the series alive. The match promises a fascinating battle of contrasting strengths: Bangladesh’s spin-heavy attack against a Netherlands side striving to prove its growth in world cricket.
Bangladesh’s Recent Form: Riding on Momentum
Bangladesh come into this series with renewed confidence after a memorable 2-1 series triumph over Pakistan in the UAE. That win, considered one of their finest away performances in recent memory, has boosted their belief in the T20I format where consistency has often eluded them.
Key highlights of their form include:
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Litton Das’s leadership: Calm and composed at the top, Litton’s captaincy has balanced aggression with stability.
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Tanzid Hasan’s aggressive starts: His attacking approach in the powerplay has given Bangladesh brisk beginnings.
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Bowling dominance: With Mustafizur Rahman’s guile, Taskin Ahmed’s pace, and Rishad Hossain’s variations, Bangladesh possess a well-rounded attack perfectly suited for Sylhet’s conditions.
Their win in the first T20I was a textbook performance—restricting the Dutch batting to a below-par total and then chasing it down with ease.
Netherlands’ Struggles in the First T20I
For the Netherlands, the series opener was a harsh reality check. Facing Bangladesh’s spinners on unfamiliar Asian conditions, their batting faltered, leading to a modest total that never looked defendable.
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Scott Edwards (captain) did his best to stabilize the innings, but support was scarce.
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Max O’Dowd—their most experienced batter—was dismissed early, denting the foundation.
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The middle order lacked intent, allowing Bangladesh’s bowlers to dictate terms.
On the bowling front, Paul van Meekeren and Kyle Klein showed flashes of promise with their seam movement, but the lack of consistent pressure meant Bangladesh’s chase was never threatened.
For the Dutch to bounce back, their top order must adapt quickly to Sylhet’s spin-friendly conditions, while bowlers must strike early to rattle Bangladesh’s in-form batters.
BAN vs NED Head-to-Head Record in T20Is
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Matches played: 6
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Bangladesh won: 5
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Netherlands won: 1
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No result: 0
The numbers underline Bangladesh’s dominance, but the Netherlands have historically sprung surprises against bigger teams. They will hope to summon that spirit in Sylhet.
Sylhet International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report
The Sylhet pitch has long been recognized as one of the most intriguing surfaces for T20 cricket in South Asia.
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Early Overs: Seamers enjoy bounce and carry under lights, making shot-making tricky.
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Middle Overs: The surface slows down significantly, bringing spinners into the game. Sharp turn and grip often make run-scoring difficult.
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Death Overs: Variations like slower balls, yorkers, and cutters are more effective than sheer pace.
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Average 1st innings score: 132
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Highest total recorded: 210/4 (Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh)
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Lowest total recorded: 33 all out (Malaysia Women vs Sri Lanka Women)
Given this balance, teams winning the toss often prefer to bat first, aiming to put up 160+ and then unleash their spinners under scoreboard pressure.
Predicted Playing XIs
Bangladesh
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Litton Das (c & wk)
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Tanzid Hasan
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Towhid Hridoy
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Mahedi Hasan
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Saif Hassan
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Jaker Ali
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Mohammad Saifuddin
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Mustafizur Rahman
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Rishad Hossain
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Shoriful Islam
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Taskin Ahmed
Netherlands
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Vikramjit Singh
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Max O’Dowd
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Aryan Dutt
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Teja Nidamanuru
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Scott Edwards (c & wk)
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Noah Croes
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Cedric de Lange
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Tim Pringle
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Paul van Meekeren
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Kyle Klein
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Sikander Zulfiqar
Key Players to Watch
Bangladesh
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Pathum Nissanka (if included) – explosive and consistent opener.
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Mustafizur Rahman – his cutters could be unplayable on a slowing pitch.
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Rishad Hossain – young spinner who thrives on Sylhet’s turning tracks.
Netherlands
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Scott Edwards – the skipper must lead from the front with the bat.
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Max O’Dowd – capable of counter-attacking if he gets through the powerplay.
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Paul van Meekeren – experienced seamer who could trouble Bangladesh early.
BAN vs NED, 2nd T20I: Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1: Bangladesh wins the toss and bowls first
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Netherlands powerplay score: 30–35
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Netherlands total: 130–140
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Match result: Bangladesh to chase comfortably
Case 2: Netherlands wins the toss and bowls first
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Bangladesh powerplay score: 50–55
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Bangladesh total: 160–170
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Match result: Bangladesh likely to defend successfully
Overall Prediction: Bangladesh to win the contest and clinch the series 2-0.
Why This Match Matters
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For Bangladesh: Another win would not only seal the series but also strengthen their preparations for the Asia Cup 2025.
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For Netherlands: A win would keep the series alive and provide much-needed confidence heading into the T20 World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
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For Fans: The Sylhet crowd will be treated to a rare fixture against a European team, making this a historic contest.
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