Fizz headlines strong showing
It seems the Bangladesh think tank are doing exactly what was needed from the Tigers' tri-nation campaign in Ireland in terms of application from the bowlers, which was an area of major concern going into the Ireland tour, which will lead into the ICC World Cup in the UK.
Much like the first game against the West Indies, the Bangladeshi bowlers once again replicated their game plan to good effect in their second meeting against the Caribbean side in Dublin yesterday, where a win would secure Bangladesh a place in the final.
West Indies elected to bat and managed to post a modest 247 for nine in 50 overs, riding on Shai Hope's 87 and skipper Jason Holder's 62. The best news for Bangladesh was that the hitherto struggling Mustafizur Rahman bagged four wickets while skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza continued his good form with a three-for at the Malahide Cricket Club.
It would have been a huge relief for the team management to see Mustafizur rediscover his groove as he had been struggling with his line and length in the past few games.
The left-arm seamer not only picked up four wickets for 43 runs from ten 10 overs, which included a maiden, he also bowled 30 dot balls and was able to flummox the Windies batters with his well-directed cutters.
The 23-year-old first picked up Roston Chase when the right-hander was caught at short mid-wicket on 19, and later trapped Jonathan Carter leg before for three. The Fizz once again came into the act by removed Ashley Nurse and debutant Raymon Reifer in the 49th over as West Indies added just 36 runs in the last five overs.
Much like the first game against the West Indies, Tigers skipper Mashrafe provided timely breakthroughs and picked up three wickets, although the pacer gave away 60 runs from 10 overs.
He removed the dangerous-looking opener Sunil Ambris, who smashed a hundred in the previous game against Ireland, by getting him well caught at slip by Soumya Sarkar for 23 off 19 balls.
The 35-year-old drew blood once again by dispatching top-scorer Hope, caught behind after he along with skipper Holder added 100 runs for the fifth wicket -- the only significant partnership.
Mashrafe went on to pick the wicket of Holder too in his next over as West Indies were unable to accelerate in the final stages.
Bangladesh spinners Shakib AL Hasan and Mehedi Hasan Miraz once again bowled brilliantly in the middle overs to keep the West Indies batsmen quiet.
Shakib, who picked up the wicket of Fabian Allen, ended up giving away just 27 runs from 10 overs while Mehedi removed Darren Bravo early on and finished with figures of 41 for one from 10 overs.
Bangladesh made one change in this game after pacer Mohammad Saifuddin suffered from back pain, allowing pacer Abu Jayed to make his ODI debut. The right-arm seamer was however unable to make his debut a memorable one, going wicket-less and conceding 56 runs from nine overs.
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