Can seniors make the difference again?

The Bangladesh team will be a relieved outfit, having gained some confidence through a 48-run win in the first ODI after the heavy defeat in the two-match Test series.

Another positive will be that Guyana has been a happy hunting ground for the Tigers so far as they have won the two games played at this venue. The previous one was the 67-run win over South Africa in the Super Eight round of the 2007 ICC World Cup.

So the Tigers will be looking to seal the three-match ODI series when they lock horns with the West Indies in the second ODI at the Providence Stadium at 12:30 am Bangladesh time. Ace allrounder Shakib Al Hasan said the pitch in Guyana suits the team.

“Obviously the team will try to win every game. But we have to give more effort tomorrow [Wednesday] as I know that West Indies will look to come back strongly and if we can win this game, we don't have to think about St Kitts. Obviously we would want to win that game too but tomorrow's game is very important for us.

“But I don't think there will be much difference at St Kitts as it will be a good batting wicket and the boundaries are short too and that may be to their advantage,” said Shakib ahead of the training session yesterday.

Bangladesh have so far won two ODI series against West Indies -- the most recent came at home in 2012 with the Tigers clinching the five-match series 3-2 while the first one came in 2009 against a rather weak West Indies side in the Caribbean.

Bangladesh rode on two of their most experienced cricketers, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib, who registered a 207-run partnership -- the country's highest for the second wicket and the second-highest for any wicket on a slow Guyana pitch.

Tamim registered his 10th ODI ton off 146 balls and although it was the slowest century by a Bangladeshi batsman in the fifty-over format, the left-hander compensated later in the innings to remain unbeaten on 130 off 160 balls with 10 fours and three sixes.

Shakib also played his part but missed his eighth hundred by just three runs. Another experienced campaigner, wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim provided the late launch and smashed a cameo that realised 30 runs off 11 balls.

It was another veteran with the ball as skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza mixed his cutters and slower deliveries brilliantly to take the sting out of West Indies' chase with figures of four for 37 from 10 overs.

Source: thedailystar