World Cup: Bangladesh and West Indies grapple with history ahead of key Taunton tussle

Bangladesh has won seven of its last nine ODIs against West Indies - and another victory would be a major World Cup boost.

Published : Jun 16, 2019 22:37 IST

Bangladesh was bowled out for just 58, the last time it faced West Indies at the World Cup in 2011.
Bangladesh was bowled out for just 58, the last time it faced West Indies at the World Cup in 2011.
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Bangladesh was bowled out for just 58, the last time it faced West Indies at the World Cup in 2011.

West Indies must find a way to overcome a Bangladesh side who has become nemesis opponents as both teams look to rouse flagging World Cup campaigns.

Bangladesh has won seven of their last nine ODIs against West Indies and on recent evidence will fancy its chances going into Monday's Taunton clash.

A tri-series staged in Ireland last month saw Bangladesh, batting second on each occasion against West Indies, win each fixture emphatically.

Its dominance of the rivalry over the past two years will be put to the test under the strain of World Cup competition, with both sides desperately in need of maximum points.

READ| Lloyd: ‘WI has the firepower to go all the way in WC’

Historically, West Indies holds the edge in World Cup meetings between the teams, having won its three previous completed meetings in the competition, in 1999, 2007 and 2011.

On the last of those occasions, Bangladesh was bundled out for just 58 and West Indies won by nine wickets.

A notable figure in the Bangladesh camp is bowling coach Courtney Walsh, formerly a much-feared West Indies paceman, and he should be able to offer batsmen an insight into how to handle the current generation of Caribbean quicks.

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That is where the threat to Bangladesh looks set to come from, although indications from early in the tournament that West Indies could use the bouncer to destructive effect have been called into question by some indifferent displays.

England made light work of reaching its 213-run target against West Indies on Friday, and Bangladesh will look to feast on any more average fare served up by Oshane Thomas, Sheldon Cottrell and Co.

Only two West Indies batsmen - Nicholas Pooran and Chris Gayle - have passed 100 runs for the tournament so far, and Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim (141) and Shakib Al Hasan (260) have both scored more heavily.

 

The toss could go a long way to dictating the outcome, with West Indies having lost six of its last seven World Cup matches when the coin has favoured the opposition.

Bangladesh's Tamim Iqbal has endured a quiet tournament with the bat so far, but he has a strong record against West Indies. With 885 runs, he is the leading scorer from either side in ODIs played between the teams.

West Indies batsmen Shai Hope has plundered 662 in just nine innings against Bangladesh at 94.57, making him a man for the Tigers to be concerned about.

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