DHAKA, July 24, 2018 (BSS)- Rejuvenated Bangladesh face a grand opportunity to win three-match ODI series as they face wounded West Indies in the 2nd One-Day International (ODI) match scheduled to be held on the early hour of Thursday ( July 26) at the Guyana National Stadium in Guyana.
The match kicks off at 12.30 am (BST).
As Tigers has beaten West Indies by 48-runs in the first ODI game and have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, now they have a excellent opportunity that if they can repeat their performance in the second ODI and come out victorious then they will be taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series .
Earlier in the first ODI, Bangladesh after having being drubbed in two match Test series, bounced back in a grand style as they outplayed West Indies in that match in all departments.
Electing to bat first, Bangladesh lost their opener Anamul for a duck but Tamim Iqbal and Shakib salvaged the team from the troubled water with an incredible 207 runs record second wicket partnership and allowed Tigers to set 280 runs target to win.
Ace all rounder Shakib Al Hasan was unlucky not to score his deserving ton as he fell for 97 but Tamim carried on to score a dazzling unbeaten knock of 130. But, it was Mushfiqur Rahim who tore the West Indian bowling apart with an aggressive 11-ball 30 runs.
While defending their 279 for 4 total, Bangladesh bowlers bowled an immaculate line length to keep the West Indian batters at bay to record a convincing 48 runs victory.
West Indies have an excellent record against Bangladesh in ODI cricket having won 19 and Bangladesh 8 out of 29 matches while two games ended-up without any result.
Skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza returned with a bang as he led from the front with superb spell taking four wickets for 37. He along with ace all-rounder Shakib and Mustafizur Rahman forms a core bowling front and will be key for them against the Caribbean. Mehidy Hasan and Mossadek Hossain played their part with good bowling spell.
So these bowlers will have to put up again another good performance if Tigers wants to wrap up the three-match series.
West Indies know they are coming in 2nd match in a do or die situation and nothing then a win can only revive the series for them. One expects them to regrouped themselves and square the series tomorrow. They will try to improve their fielding as they dropped numbers of sitters and would looked to rectify their mistakes in order to put pressure on the visitors.
Chris Gayle with 40 and Shimron Hetmyer 52 showed early promises but Gayle’s run out changed the course of match as Bangladesh bowlers bowled a good line and length to keep a tight leash. Evin Lewis, Jason Holder and Andre Russell failed to sparkle with the bat, one expects tomorrow, they all will be looking forward to thwart the Bangladesh bowling attack.
With the ball, Skipper Jason Holder topped the wickets charts in the test series picking up 16 wickets. Holder along with Alzarri Joseph who has 23 wickets in 13 matches may be the biggest threat to Bangladesh in ODI’s.
Squads: Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Abu Hider Rony, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Sabbir Rahman and Mushfiqur Rahim. West Indies: Jason Holder (captain), Chris Gayle, Ashley Nurse, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope, Devendra Bishoo, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Mohammed, Rovman Powell, Alzarri Joseph and Andre Russell.