BartaBangla Report :: Bangladesh will play the second match against the hosts West Indies today at National Cricket Stadium, Grenada, knowing that a defeat would cost them the three-match ODI series.
The demoralising three-wicket capitulation in the first ODI from the winning position though would hurt them, skipper Mushfiqur Rahim expected they are capable to turnaround the things. “We were 20-25 runs short. The batsmen kept getting out. Anamul batted well but there was no one supporting him. They didn’t play their best innings. Our bowlers did a great job at the front, taking those five wickets, but we were unable to keep the pressure,” Rahim said after the first match.
“We gave away too many loose balls after that, so there were some positives to take, but we have to play our best game to win here. It is not impossible to win here, but we have to do the right things, and not only in a short space of time, but we need to do it over a longer period.”
Bangladesh were in a position to win the match comfortably after reducing the West Indies to 34-5. The 145-run partnership between Keiron Pollard and Dinesh Ramdin, the last recognised batting pair of the hosts, propelled the side home.
The tourists seemed to be relaxed after cutting the top order showing an impeccable bowling performance. The captain’s decision to employ the part time bowlers at the moment also did not help their cause as Pollard and Ramdin took the full advantage of the ordinary bowling to make them settled in the crease.
Big hitter Pollard was merciless after getting set as he struck six sixes and five fours on his way to 70 ball-89.
Ramdin played a second fiddle to Pollard and rotated the strike with cool headed. He hit 74 off 76 smashing six fours and one six.
Bangladesh were without a left arm bowler for the first time after elevated to the Test cricket. The absence of a genuine left arm bowler was felt when Pollard and Ramdin went after the bowlers effortlessly in a slower pitch.
The tourists also played four specialists opener in the playing XI, leaving out a batsman like Mominul Haque which also raised question about the game plan.
It is speculated that the team management would amend it by including Mominul Haque and Razzak to the squad in the second match what is now a ‘do or die’ match for them.