West Indies and Bangladesh face each other for the final time in the ODI series. Bangladesh have taken an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the series.
Match Timings: Jan 25, 11 AM IST
Team Preview
Bangladesh will host the West Indies in the final ODI of the series to eye the series whitewash. It will be the first whitewash for the Tigers against a better-ranked side. They had done previously against Zimbabwe before. Tamim Iqbal-led side has dominated the first two games and West Indies looked pathetic. In both games, Bangladesh bowled out the opposition below 150. In the last game, West Indies lost its 8 wickets on just 88 but they somehow got a partnership for the 9th wicket to avoid humiliation. The approach was also below average from this young West Indies side. Some of the players have played Caribbean T20 League and List A cricket for West Indies A but nobody showed resilience on the pitch. Bangladesh are a highly boosted side and they are clear favourites to wrap this series with 3-0.
Ahead of the important Test series, hosts can rest its key Test players from these games. Hasan Mahmud got an ODI cap in the opening match. Shoriful Islam can make his debut on Monday. In the last game, Mehidy Hasan picked a 4-wickets haul and Shakib garbed two for 30. Mustafizur continued his top form with an economical spell of 15/2 in 8 overs. Tamim scored a fine half-century in chase and Shakib also played a handy knock of 43. Hosts looked better in the chase comparing to the opening game. Tamim can promote his players up in the order to give some practice to other players. In both games, they chased down the target so Bangladesh would expect to bat first in the final ODI.
Meanwhile, West Indies have nothing to lose but they can end this series on a high note. They have been outplayed by the hosts in the first two matches and their batting let them down at crunch moments. Kjorn Ottley made his debut in the last game and scored 24 as an opener. He was in good touch but failed to convert the start into big. From 88/8, West Indies got 148, thanks to Rovman Powell who scored gritty 41 and added 60 runs for the last two wickets. West Indies have to play with a sensible approach. The attacking approach with the very first ball isn’t a great sign. These players have played domestic circuit and participated in the Caribbean league with international stars. West Indies will now play two tests and they would try to end this ODI assignment with a moral victory. Changes are expected and Powell may bat up in the order. The bowling unit requires some runs from the batting side. In the first game, Akeal Hosein bowled very well and Alzarri Joseph is also in good touch with the new ball. If West Indies score a strong total, their bowlers can trouble Bangladesh.
Pitch Report
Chattogram’s surface is slightly different from Dhaka. The surface offers good help to spin and it tests the batsmen with low bounce. Batting wouldn’t be easier as we genuinely see in Dhaka’s track. Chasing would be a tough call so batting first is an ideal call after winning the toss.
Possible XI
Bangladesh
Liton Das, Tamim Iqbal (c), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Soumya Sarkar, Mehidy Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman
West Indies
Sunil Ambris, Kjorn Ottley, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Andre McCarthy, Jason Mohammed (c), Kyle Mayers, Nkrumah Bonner, Rovman Powell, Raymon Reifer, Alzarri Joseph, Akeal Hosein
Key Players
Bangladesh
Tamim Iqbal
This series – 44 & 50
Shakib Al Hasan
This series – 8/4 & 19, 30/2 & 43
West Indies
Alzarri Joseph
ODI career – M: 29, Wickets: 48, Avg: 29.81
Akeal Hosein
This series – 26/3, 45/1
