Motivated Tigers eyeing clean sweep

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DHAKA, Nov 29, 2018 (BSS)- After an impressive 64-run win over West Indies
in the opening Test at Chattogram, the Tigers embark on a new mission as they
will be eyeing for a clean sweep when they face visiting West Indies for the
second Test scheduled to begin tomorrow (Friday) at the Sher-e-Bangla
National Cricket Stadium at Mirpur.

The match kicks off at 9.30 am.

Both teams so far have played fifteen Test matches against each other with
the visitors leading the score line by 10-3. In the two matches played at
Mirpur the Caribbean had a clear advantage, having emerged victorious on both
the occasions.

The victory in the first Test was Bangladesh’s first Test win against the
West Indies at home. Despite this, the hosts would be disappointed with their
effort in the second innings as they could manage only 125 runs.

Bangladesh’s batting, however, remains a worry. Dependable batsman Mominul
Haque struck 120 runs in the first innings but Mushfiqur Rahim didn’t have a
good Test with the bat while Mahmudullah and Imrul Kayes struggled for their
form. Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Mithun failed to apply themselves deftly on
a spin-friendly wicket.

In the absence of opener Imrul Kayes, the uncapped opener Shadman Islam is
expected to earn his maiden Test cap. It is expected that he would put up a
decent opening stand with another opener Soumya Sarkar.

Ace all rounder Shakib Al Hasan will be their main weapon with both bat and
ball. The all-rounder is their leading wicket-taker in Tests and will be
expected to counter the visitors once again.

Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz formed a useful quartet
in the first Test, taking all 20 West Indies wickets. Taijul was the pick of
the bowlers in both innings, but it was his 6 for 33 in the decisive fourth
innings that made the big difference.

Shakib was at his accurate best, teasing and dragging batsmen out of their
crease or getting them to go back to full balls with his variations in
flight.

Following wicket keeper Mushfiqur Rahim’s finger injury two days before the
second Test, Bangladesh have enlisted Liton Das on stand-by, should Mushfiqur
not be deemed match-ready.

On the other hand, The West Indies faced their third consecutive defeat in
Tests and have not been in the best of forms in the longest format. However
the visitors will take some confidence from their good record against
Bangladesh

Shimron Hetmyer and Shane Dowrich both struck 63 in the first innings of
the first Test and the team need from them to play a similar knock in the
second Test. Except these two, they will back Kraigg Brathwaite, Kieran
Powell and Shai Hope to step up on this occasion. All of them failed to
convert their starts in the last match and it will be essential that at least
one of them plays a big knock in the match.

Among the bowlers, the likes of Devendra Bishoo and Jomel Warrican would be
expected to cause the maximum damage.

While Bishoo claimed five wickets including a four-fer in the second
innings of the first Test, Warrican was the pick of the bowlers in the first
Test with six wickets.

In the absence of Gabriel, the team will need Kemar Roach to come out with
his best and get some wickets upfront.

Probable squads:

Bangladesh – Shadman Islam, Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Mohammad Mithun,
Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Mushfiqur Rahim (wicket keeper), Mahmudullah,
Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman.

West Indies – Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Kieran Powell, Shai Hope, Sunil
Ambris, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Shane Dowrich, Devendra Bishoo, Kemar
Roach, Jomel Warrican and Shermon Lewis.