‘A small ground is also good for us’

Small ground will favour Bangladesh batsmen, said Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza ahead of tomorrow's match against West Indies.

One of the major factors behind Bangladesh's confidence in the ODI scene when heading into the World Cup is the Tigers' recent record against West Indies. They won seven of their last nine meetings against the Caribbean side and recently won the tri-nation series in Ireland by beating West Indies in the final. With the ground at Taunton being of a smaller dimension, there is worry that the Windies big hitters will run riot. Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was however confident that the small ground will favour the Tigers as well.

West Indies top-order has a number of left-handed batsmen and Mashrafe suggested that Bangladesh may have a trick up their sleeves with their spin abilities.

"Yeah, obviously, we've been quite successful against them with some offspinners. So we have to think about it as well. And if you look at recently, I think, Mehedi bowled really well against them. And also he's bowling so well in this World Cup as well, even the right-handed.

"So obviously the top five West Indies are left handers, which Mehedi bowled against them really well. So it's a positive sign," he said at a press conference today.

The likes of Chris Gayle and Andre Russell can hit big sixes in any grounds. Mashrafe felt that small ground means that it will favour Bangladesh in terms of hitting big shots.

"It's a small ground, too, so we have to think about it as well. So one side we will be very stronger. So West Indies has so much power to do it. But, again, I'd say we don't think about this ground. A small ground is also good for us. So I think it will go equally. We have to play well," he concluded.