With the three-match series all squared up at 1-1, the West Indies and Bangladesh will resume their rivalry in a decisive battle on Saturday at Warner Park in Basseterre.
The West Indies held their nerve at the death to stay alive in the series with a three-run win in the second ODI in Guyana, but the effort was not without its flaws.
Bangladesh would have been bitterly disappointed to let victory slip from their grasp at the Providence Stadium. They failed to get just eight runs from the final over of a match they looked to have in the bag.
West Indies v Bangladesh | Saturday, 28 July | Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts | 15:30
To Win Match * Forecast betting
West Indies 11/20
Tie 35/1
Bangladesh 31/20
West Indies
The West Indies kept the series alive through a combination of a counter-attacking ton from Shimron Hetmyer and cool death bowling from Jason Holder, but those displays cannot cover up the obvious weaknesses in their ODI unit.
The top order has started slowly in both matches so far, losing wickets consistently and they have relied on the lower order to close out innings. Potent opening pair Evin Lewis and Chris Gayle have failed to deliver on their promise and middle-order talent Shai Hope has been light on runs for an extended period.
The bright spot for the West Indies has been the emergence of Hetmyer as a source of stability in the middle order. His century in the second ODI, which followed a knock of 52 in the series opener, made him the youngest West Indies centurion on home soil.
In the bowling department, there is a whole lot more for the West Indies to be pleased about, with Holder leading from the front via strong displays in both matches. It is unclear if Andre Russell will be fit to face Bangladesh in the decider after he sat out the second match with injury.
Alzarri Joseph bowled with great pace after coming in for Russell, but he disappeared to the boundary just as quickly. Joseph took the wicket of Anamul Haque, but conceded 55 runs in just six overs.
The West Indies may consider sending an SOS out to either left-arm quick Sheldon Cottrell or young fast-bowling prospect Sherman Lewis, who impressed for West Indies A in England.
The Windies spinners, Devendra Bishoo and Ashley Nurse, have been excellent in starving Bangladesh of runs in the middle overs, but both would like to have a few more wickets to show for their individual and collective efforts.
The hosts struggled against Bangladesh’s spin options on a sluggish surface in Providence – and Warner Park offers little hope of respite.
Rain is a possibility on the morning of the game ,but at this stage it looks as though the weather will continue to play nice in the Caribbean.
Bangladesh
Everything went right for the visitors in the second ODI, right up until the final over, when they somehow conspired to fail to get just eight runs.
The decision to open the bowling with spin, in the shape of Mehedi Hasan, paid dividends in Providence, as Lewis and Gayle struggled to get him off the square.
Bangladesh have bowled well this series, but will need to be better in the field. Dropping Hetmyer in the second match proved costly and newly-appointed fielding coach Ryan Cook clearly has his work cut out.
At the outset of the series, the Bangladesh top order looked out of sorts and were almost all short on runs, but through the brace of matches in Guyana only Anamul has failed to make a meaningful contribution.
Opener Tamim Iqbal has not been his usual fluent self, but the nature of the pitches has played a big role in inhibiting his strokeplay.
Inhibition has not been a problem for Shakib Al Hasan, either with the bat or the ball. The number one-ranked ODI all-rounder took two wickets and bashed 56 runs in the second ODI.
Mashrafe Mortaza, much like his opposite number Holder, has led by example with his crafty bowling. Mashrafe has made up for a loss of pace with skills and an unflappable temperament. He appears determined to secure his legacy as skipper in the next year.
Verdict: Bangladesh 31/20 *Forecast betting
The Tigers should have sealed the series in Guyana – and will learn from the mistake of allowing the game to drift into a deciding over. Bangladesh look to be superior to the West Indies in each aspect of the game.
