Windies, on Wednesday bounced back in the 2nd ODI to draw level in their three-match series against Bangladesh. After losing out on a slow wicket at Providence in Guyana in the first encounter, Windies would have again been second favourites entering into the 2nd ODI, also to be played at Providence. Though, on a different wicket in slightly better conditions the teams played to a thriller to set up a decider at Warner Park in St. Kitts on Saturday.
It was heartening to see Windies’ bowlers adapting to the conditions and adjusting after gifting the Bangladeshi top-order 71 runs in the first seven overs of the chase, placing themselves under significant pressure. It was truly impressive the way in which the Caribbean side pulled things back, restricting the visitors to just 4.3 runs an over for the remainder of the run chase (43 overs). Gayle, Nurse and Bishoo all went at a run rate of under 4.00. While Holder, after conceding 30 runs in his first two overs, conceded just 36 in his remaining eight throughout the innings. The repair started when Holder tossed the ball to Chris Gayle who decide to contest two games—cricket and that of the mind; diverting Tamim and Shakib while leaving Bishoo and Nurse to do the rest.
The hosts undoubtedly benefited from the nonexistence of the dew factor as well as the fact that this pitch was slightly quicker, aided by bright sunshine throughout the afternoon. The latter was exhausted by Hetmyer who formed a match-winning partnership with Rovman Powell. Most impressive about their 103-run partnership were the forced errors from the visitors which were as a result of their running between the wickets. It was especially pleasant to watch the way Hetmyer maintained a healthy strike rate without a flurry of boundaries, which only began as he moved into the 80s. The ball was by no means flying of the bat, but the injection of singles into the West Indian innings on Wednesday made a lot of difference to the eventual score and what it could have been had they batted the 50 overs. Therefore, if Holder or Nurse had stuck around for any amount of time, 300 would have easily been on. Going into the final encounter, Windies would be hoping that either Gayle, Lewis or Hope put their hand up. While looking to build upon what was a solid display of death-bowling from the relatively unfazed Keemo Paul and Jason Holder as the team goes in search of their first ODI series win with the latter at the helm.
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