Bangladesh lay down challenge for West Indies
Match facts
December 2, KhulnaStart time 0900 (0300 GMT)
Big Picture
It was up to Bangladesh to inject life into the five-match ODI series by challenging West Indies, and with their win in the first game, they have done exactly that. The 1-0 lead has already ensured a rise in the ODI rankings and there will be motivation for more.The hosts' gamble with four debutants clicked for the selectors and the team management. Sohag Gazi became the first Bangladesh player to take the man-of-the-match award on debut, while Anamul Haque first scratched around and then batted more confidently for his 41. They will also be heartened by putting in a positive showing though they were minus Shakib Al Hasan. Tamim Iqbal was brilliant with the bat while Abdur Razzak took three wickets.
West Indies have a lot to play for - and correct - in the second ODI. The visitors gave Bangladesh a fine start with the ball, committing to some reckless shots that had them caught on the boundary or on the 30-yard circle. Some tried cutting at deliveries on middle-stump and there was also the odd run-out. The fielding too disintegrated as soon as the likes of Kemar Roach, Ravi Rampaul and Sunil Narine failed to dominate Bangladesh.
Form guide
Bangladesh WLWWL (Most recent first)West Indies LWWLW
In the spotlight
There was only one wicket for Mashrafe Mortaza in the first game but he used all his experience to counter the swishes of Lendl Simmons and the advances of Chris Gayle. He withstood the early pressure and though there were boundaries, ultimately he was rewarded with the wicket of Simmons, a wicket that was more important than it appears given the mayhem the openers could have created. Bangladesh would be needing exactly the same performance, if not better, on Sunday, from the man who grew up a hundred or so kilometers from the stadium.It would be interesting to see how Darren Sammy reacts after an ordinary performance in the first game. After holing out on the long-on boundary, the West Indies captain bowled an insipid spell. His position in the team could again be called into question if there is another poor performance.
Team news
It is unlikely that Bangladesh will change a winning combination, especially after three of the four debutants were heavily involved in the contest. Mominul Haque will bat in the middle-order and it is likely that he will bat without much pressure of expectations. He would have to deliver immediately though, especially after the way Anamul Haque fought a lot of mental barriers during his short innings in the first ODI.Bangladesh (possible): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Anamul Haque, 3 Naeem Islam, 4 Nasir Hossain, 5 Mahmudullah, 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), 7 Mominul Haque, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza, 9 Sohag Gazi, 10 Abdur Razzak, 11 Rubel Hossain
West Indies are also likely to go with the same team but slotting in Dwayne Smith might be an option. Kieran Powell could also be included, more due to the form he has shown during the Test series against Bangladesh.
West Indies (possible): 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Lendl Simmons, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Kieron Pollard, 6 Darren Sammy, 7 Devon Thomas, 8 Andre Russell, 9 Ravi Rampaul, 10 Sunil Narine, 11 Kemar Roach
Pitch and conditions
Mushfiqur Rahim would want more of the same from curator Zahid Reza after the Bangladesh seamers held the West Indies openers with some early movement in the first game, before the spinners held sway on the slow turner. The batsmen too thrived later on, but patience will be the key.
Stats and trivia
- Bangladesh have won the first match of a bilateral series 11 times, two times of which have been against West Indies including in this series
- Chris Gayle hasn't scored a half-century against Bangladesh since October 2006
Quotes
"We have to take the field for the second game with the same mentality [as in the first] and try our best to play as well as possible."Bangladesh fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza
"There's no panic. We admitted that probably we got a little complacent and Bangladesh seized on the opportunity. It was one day in a five-match series. Tomorrow we have to make things right."
West Indies captain Darren Sammy
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent