Zimbabwe eye series leveller against Bangladesh in 3rd T20I

The series stands level at one apiece after two matches, and Sunday's decider in Harare will settle which team leaves this tour with bragging rights. Zimbabwe claimed the first game by 32 runs; Bangladesh hit back in the second with a 34-run victory. One win separates them. One match remains.

The momentum question

All the talk this week is whether Bangladesh can finish a forgettable tour on a high, or whether Zimbabwe will seize home advantage to wrap up the series. The visitors have shown they can compete - that 34-run win proved the tour isn't a write-off. But Zimbabwe have the comfort of playing at home, and they've already demonstrated they know how to dismantle this Bangladesh batting order.

The margins tell you something. Thirty-two runs, then 34 runs back. These aren't fluky wins. Both teams have had passages where they've dominated. The question now is which side has learned more from the first two matches, and which has the mental edge heading into a winner-takes-all shootout.

What comes next

Beyond this series, the calendar moves quickly. India arrive in Zimbabwe just four days later for their own T20I tour, which means Zimbabwe won't have long to dwell on the result. For Bangladesh, the journey home begins after Sunday, with plenty of time to reflect on a tour that started badly but could yet end respectably.

The women's game also kicks into gear this week, with Pakistan's ODI tour of Sri Lanka starting Thursday. But the men's cricket world will be watching Harare on Sunday. Series deciders at T20I level don't always carry the weight of Test cricket, but they matter - especially when both teams are still searching for form and answers.