WI vs Bangladesh: ODI Series, Game 2 of 3: West Indies looking to innovate today at Providence

Story and Photos By Brandon Corlette

Bangladesh are enjoying success in the One Day International (ODI) format of their tour of the West Indies, but it is the opposite situation for their hosts. Having lost their last nine ODIs against Bangladesh, the men in maroon will be eager to turn things around in today’s second ODI, being played at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.

According to ODI vice-captain Shai Hope, the West Indies MUST find a way to score runs, and he noted that innovation is the way to go. “It is important for us to put the remedy right and make sure we find a way to tick all the boxes and get victories,” Hope told the local media at Providence on the eve of the second ODI.
Asked what went wrong, Hope said: “Conditions had a bit to play. It was a difficult pitch to start on as a batter, but we have to find a way to score, whether in picking up singles, finding more boundary options; but it is important for us to learn as quickly as we can. We must find ways to score more freely and put bowlers under pressure, and find more runs for our bowlers to bowl at. I think we will change pitches for the second game, but it is difficult to bat on, especially in the morning period.
“Again, cricket is one of those games we have to adapt as quickly as we can, and regardless of the situation, you have to score more runs than the other team to win,” Hope explained.

After the early morning rainfall, this Barbadian, the most prolific ODI player in the team, had an extended net session on the eve of the match. “I am feeling good. I love to bat, it is important for me to keep hitting it and spend time in the middle, and I usually have that time in the middle,” Hope said.
West Indies will be concerned about how they batted in the first half of their innings in the last game. They played 88 dot balls in their first 20 overs, which later resulted in them losing a cluster of wickets. Batting in partnerships and rotating the strike would be key for West Indies.

West Indies (probable XI): 1 Kyle Mayers, 2 Shai Hope, 3 Shamarh Brooks, 4 Brandon King, 5 Nicholas Pooran (capt & wk), 6 Rovman Powell, 7 Romario Shepherd, 8 Akeal Hosein, 9 Gudakesh Motie, 10 Anderson Phillip, 11 Jayden Seales.
Bangladesh are most likely to keep their winning XI intact, barring any last-minute injuries.
Bangladesh (probable XI): 1 Tamim Iqbal (capt), 2 Liton Das, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Mahmudullah, 5 Afif Hossain, 6 Nurul Hasan (wk), 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Taskin Ahmed, 9 Nasum Ahmed, 10 Shoriful Islam, 11 Mustafizur Rahman.