ICC World Cup 2019 Match 23, Bangladesh v West Indies: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

Both Bangladesh and the West Indies had good starts to their respective campaigns but have gone flat since, marked by inconsistencies in batting and bowling. Both teams will strive for consistency when they meet in Taunton on Monday, June 17.

The West Indies had threatened to bounce out teams with their four-pronged pace attack but in their last match, against England at the Rose Bowl, Joe Root and co. reached the target of 213 runs off just 33.1 overs. Bangladesh, who had defended 330 against South Africa, conceded 386 against England and lost heavily.

While Bangladesh have done decently with the bat, it is their bowling that has let them down. A washout against Sri Lanka hasn’t helped Bangladesh’s cause but having conceded over 300 in two of their three completed games, they have a reason to worry. Against England, all five frontline bowlers conceded in excess of 6.5 runs per over.

When faced with batsmen who are not shy of attacking from the word go, the Bangladeshi bowling line-up has been found wanting and that’s the challenge they’ll face against the West Indies who have explosive batsmen like Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran and Andre Russell.

Bangladesh’s stronger suit has been their batting. Shakib Al Hasan averages 86.67 in the tournament, and a century and two half-centuries in 3 innings. Mushfiqur Rahim, too, has been in form and has accumulated 141 runs so far, but his participation in this match remains in doubt after he copped a blow from a Mustafizur Rahman delivery in the nets and walked off the field on Saturday. The other senior batsmen, Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah, need to fire.

The West Indies’ case has been that of living by sword and dying by it. They rely on their power hitters – Gayle, Hetmyer, Russell, Evin Lewis, and Pooran – but it is the batsmen’s impatience that has cost them on occasions.

Against Australia, chasing 289, everyone in the middle order got quick starts but none bar captain Jason Holder had the patience to stay till the end. Even against England, their batsmen kept hitting their way out of trouble until they couldn’t and were folded for 213. The batsmen need to exercise caution with aggression. Their bowling remains the stronger suit.

Head to head

The West Indies lead the head-to-head tally 21-14 but recent history is in Bangladesh’s favour. Bangladesh won the final of the Ireland tri-nation series in Dublin against the West Indies and also won two league games. At the World Cup, though, the West Indies hold the upper hand with a 3-0 margin.

Key Players

Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh): Shakib has proved to be Bangladesh’s most valuable player in the tournament thus far, contributing with both bat and ball. His promotion to No. 3 has done wonders – he has crossed fifty every time he has walked out to bat in this World Cup.

Nicholas Pooran (West Indies): Pooran has batted sensibly even when wickets have fallen around him and he is one batsman who has shown the ability to bat according to the situation without taking many risks. Scores of 63, 40 and 34* so far indicate good form.

Likely XIs

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim/Liton Das (wk), Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman.

West Indies: Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope (wk), Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder (c), Andre Russell, Carlos Brathwaite, Ashley Nurse, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas.

Prediction

Favourable conditions in Taunton help the West Indies pacers restrict Bangladeshi batsmen.