MATCH: Bangladesh v West Indies 3rd ODI
DATE: Tuesday, October 18, 2011
TIME: 1330 hours local time (0730 hours GMT)
VENUE: ZAC Stadium in Chittagong.
Bangladesh will look to gun for a consoltation win against West Indies in the third and the final ODI of the series as the action moves to Chittagong.
Past Record:
West Indies lost the T20I but have come back well to win both the opening ODIs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. In the first game, they piled up 298 before restricting Bangladesh to 258 and then restricted the hosts to 220 before running away with the game in the second.
Team News:
West Indies (1/2 at Blue Square) have been blessed by the presence of Marlon Samuels in the team. He has batted so well at the number three position that he has almost made it his own - scoring two successive half-centuries. To go with that, there have been a couple of good bowling spells as well, in which he has got a total of three wickets - a true all-round performance and he looks to be set to win the man of the series award.
Lendl Simmons (10/3 at Coral) is another who has shown good form too - scores of a century and a near-century have pushed him to the top of the batting charts. With Adrian Barath out of the side due to injury, Simmons seems to have used his experience in the sub-continent at the Champions League T20 2011 rather well.
It has been interesting to note that the West Indian slow bowlers have not been as effective as the quicker ones - the trio of Kemar Roach, Ravi Rampaul and Andre Russell have done well in the two games, with both, their economy and the wicket-taking.
Bangladesh (7/4 at SportingBet) need to infuse some colour in their batting - Tamim Iqbal has been a disappointment, while the one batsman Naeem Islam who was promoted to the top of the order, after Imrul Kayes could not open the innings in the first game, was dropped down to the number seven position again. He made another 30 in the second game.
It is a surprise that the Bangladeshi side continues to back Mohammad Ashraful despite his consistent failings - his scores of 0 and 2 would have probably done their bit in pushing him out of the side. It is the duo of Mushfiqur Rahim (13/2 at Coral) and Shakib al Hasan who has to bat in tandem and long to ensure that the side can get to a bigger score in the middle order.
Abdur Razzaq has been a bit of a surprise for his side. Tipped to lead the side's attack along side Shakib, with spin expecting to play a part, Razzaq has bowled 15 overs for 96 runs without picking up a wicket so far. Bangladesh could be tempted to play Suhrawadi Shuvo in this game.
Players to look out for
West Indies will be hoping for an encore from Simmons and Samuels but I feel that a weak middle-order could mean that a lot will depend on how Kieron Pollard plays. Bangladesh need their top-order to fire.
Prediction:
West Indies to make it 3-0 but will need to be careful if they bat first as early wickets do peg teams back here.
