With India, England and Australia going so well in the Cricket World Cup, those not inside the top four are suddenly under huge pressure to get on a winning run and two such teams meet in Taunton on Monday when West Indies take on Bangladesh.
We have had to worry about the rain for the last week or so in this tournament but there are no such concerns on Monday. That means one of these two will walk off with the two points and the situation for both should ensure a competitive contest for us to enjoy.
West Indies
The West Indies announced themselves to this tournament in some style with an emphatic win over Pakistan in their opening match and when they had Australia 30 odd for four in their next outing many from the Caribbean were dreaming of the stars. It has gone quiet for them since then though. They ended up losing to Australia and have since been walloped by England are a rained off game against South Africa so they have to win this to keep their hopes alive given that they still have India to come.
If West Indies are going to get themselves back into this tournament then they have to box so much smarter with the bat than they did against England. For their two main hitters to hole out tamely in the deep when the plans were so obvious was borderline inexcusable. The other thing they have to do is retain their intensity for the whole 50 overs when they have the ball in hand. That won’t be easy because so many of their players look to be carrying injuries.
Bangladesh
It has been much the same career path for Bangladesh in this tournament. They too announced themselves on the scene when they beat South Africa in their opening match. When they had New Zealand needing 20 odd with just two wickets left, the Tigers were hurtling towards two from two but they lost that, ran into the rain and then went full force into a storm from England’s batsman so much like West Indies, this is must win for Bangladesh if they are to make it through.
Bangladesh have been fine with the bat in the main in this tournament. In fact they haven’t done a whole lot wrong at all in this tournament other than be in the wrong place at the wrong time when England got up and running. The fact that it has been more than a week between chalks means that they will have had time for their niggles to be soothed and to take stock of the fine margins in which they do need to improve.
Team News
West Indies are going to make a game time decision on Andre Russell who looks like he is ready for the knackers yard to be fair. Ashley Nurse will be pushing for a recall. He could come in for Carlos Brathwaite if Russell is passed fit.
Bangladesh had a scare with Mushfiqur Rahim heading towards the match but the talk that he could miss out here has died down so they could be unchanged from the England match unless they want to swap one of their more expensive bowlers.
Special Offer
Bet on the team top batsman market at Boylesports; get money back as a free bet up to £20 if your player scores 50+ but doesn’t top score! ALL CUSTOMERS! Click the image above to bet. 18+ T&Cs apply
Betting
I’m going to load up the bets for this match given that we don’t have to worry about the weather for once. My main one comes in the form of the boundaries where the line looks very low at 57.5. Although they were shot out for under 200 on this ground, Afghanistan hit more than 20 boundaries so that highlights the potential for them here. I guess the line is low because bookmakers think Bangladesh will get bounced out but I don’t see that happening. England never did that to them and each game the Windies play their bowling has looked tamer and tamer. There are tons of excellent batsmen on show here and whether it is in fours or sixes I’m expecting them all to combine for more than 57.5 boundaries.
Soumya Sarkar has a wonderful record against West Indies. He has played against them six times. The first two times he batted at six and seven which isn’t ideal for his talents but since he moved up to the top three he has made four successive 50s against them. His runs line here looks pretty low to me at 25.5. He might need to weather an initial storm but West Indies have barely bowled a ball that has hit the stumps so as long as he isn’t spooked out by the short ball, and given that he got away against Rabada, Boult, Ferguson et al there is no evidence to suggest he will be, I fancy he can make it to 26 and beyond.
I’m also going to attack the sixes markets on the smallest ground in the competition. This was the home ground of Chris Gayle for a few T20 matches a few seasons ago and he’ll know all about it. There is nothing in the Bangladesh attack to trouble him if he fancies it so the odds against on him clearing the ropes twice looks far too big to me. He clobbered Pakistan for three sixes and hit England for one at a bigger ground than this so I like the over there. I also like the odds on Nicholas Pooran to hit a six too. He has hit sixes in all three innings in this series and looks to be batting nicely. He’s overpriced to clear the ropes.
I’ll also have a small bet on Mehidy Hasan to take the most wickets for Bangladesh. He has figures of 1-44, 2-47 and 2-67 in this tournament so he is bowling well at the minute. Only once in his last 14 matches has he not taken a wicket in ODI cricket and with West Indies having all left-handers in their top five with the exception of Shai Hope, Mehidy is going to have plenty of outside edges to go at. He’s 4/1 to lead the wicket taking which might be a shade big given that Shakib will be bowling into the pads of most and the seamers just took an almighty smoking.
Tips
WON – Back Over 57.5 boundaries for a 6/10 stake at 1.83 with William Hill
Back M.Hasan Top Bangladesh Bowler for a 2/10 stake at 5.00 with William Hill
Back them here:
WON – Back S.Sarkar – Over 25.5 runs for a 4/10 stake at 1.85 with BetVictor
Back him here:
Back C.Gayle – Over 1.5 sixes for a 3/10 stake at 2.20 with Bet365
WON – Back N.Pooran – Over 0.5 sixes for a 3/10 stake at 1.87 with 888sport
Back him here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2019
