Tigers eye clinching series against Windies

After completely thumping Bangladesh in Test and T20 series, West Indies suffered a huge defeat against the visitors in the first match of the three- match ODI series. The second one is scheduled to start at 7:30pm today (Wednesday) at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.

The Tigers were whitewashed in the two-match Test series and also lost the three-match T20 series by 2-0. However, they came back strongly in the ODI series and are leading the series by 1-0 as they won the first one by six wickets. It was their ninth straight win against the Caribbeans. 

The visitors will be on the happier side if we look at the statistics for the last three-four years. Bangladesh won a T20 series in 2018 by 2-1. Later, the Tigers won two more series. They registered 2-1 and 3-0 wins against the Windies in Bangladesh in 2019 and 2021.

The two sides faced each other 42 times. Bangladesh won 19 while West Indies won 21 matches. The two matches ended in no result. 

Bangladesh got a home-like condition in Guyana as the wicket was really slow. But it would not be easy to win the second ODI and clinch the series as people witnessed sloppy fielding in the first match.   

The players dropped four catches in that match and ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal is concerned about the matter.

"Yes we won the game but there is room for improvement. If we play against a bigger team than West Indies in a true condition, these dropped catches could be very costly. After being the captain, I continued to say that we have to grab those chances, otherwise, it will be pretty tough to win any multinational tournament," Tamim said.

"So it's the thing that we could improve. Otherwise, I am happy with the bowling and batting. But if we didn't drop four catches, we could have chased a target like 115."

Seamer Shoriful Islam registered his career-best as he claimed four wickets after conceding 34 runs while spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz picked up three crucial wickets in the first ODI. Debutant Nasum Ahmed was brilliant with the ball as well. He did not get any wicket but was economical, conceding just 16 runs in eight overs.

Squad: 

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal (c), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mahmudullah Riyad, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Liton Das (wk), Nurul Hasan Sohan, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Taijul Islam, Ebadot Hossain, Nasum Ahmed.

West Indies: Shamarh Brooks, Brandon King, Rovman owell, Keacy Carty, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Nicholas Pooran (c ), Shai Hope, Akeal Husein, Alzarri Joseph, Anderson Phillip, Jayden Seals.