Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey

Bangladesh vs West Indies 1st T20I Preview + Dream11

One wonders what a T20I series offers two sides looking forward to the 50-over 2019 World Cup. Most pressing is the need for both sides to improve their T20I records in 2018, as well as have more players step up more consistently.

Bangladesh deservedly won the ODI series 2-1, which was their sixth win in the last seven matches against the Windies in all formats. Series like these offer an opportunity for the likes of Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun and Mohammad Saifuddin to dictate matches, which is crucial for Bangladesh’s future. A good opportunity for further success awaits against a struggling Windies unit. Can Bangladesh continue their recent dominance?

West Indies were a one-man band in the ODI series. Shai Hope was the only player to put forward performances of substance, followed by Oshane Thomas, who was inexplicably rested for the deciding ODI. Such a decision perhaps highlights the Windies’ muddled thinking, in which only victories can be the solution. Will they find success on what has been a tough tour?

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Key to a Bangladesh win

Bangladesh stifled the Windies in each of their wins in the ODI series, restricting the tourists to below 200 both times. Early and regular wickets were the key, and will be key again in the T20I series against a side struggling for fluency. One key wicket is of the magnificent Shai Hope, but to get it, Bangladesh might need to get on top of the remaining members of the top seven as they did in the third ODI. Mehidy Hasan Miraz was superb, and was backed up well by the seamers. Can Bangladesh put on another clinical display in the field?

However, one area that Bangladesh have struggled with in T20Is is their batting approach. The Tigers have won just four of 13 matches in 2018, and much is owed to an all-or-nothing approach. The key will be how well Bangladesh rotate the strike, maximising the impact of any boundaries they hit. Liton Das continues to promise but under-deliver, Soumya Sarkar is in good touch up the order, and Bangladesh have their experienced players on deck. Can the batsmen light up Sylhet?

Key to a West Indies win

If Shai Hope fails, who else will deliver? Shimron Hetmyer was one of the disappointments of the ODI series, but to be fair to him, everyone else bar Hope was poor. Evin Lewis, Denesh Ramdin, Nicholas Pooran and Carlos Braithwaite all return to the Windies setup, and all have a key role in overcoming a Bangladesh attack that has had success against every batsman except one in the limited overs leg of this tour. Will the Windies batsmen fire in their most preferred format?

Also, how well will the bowlers go? Oshane Thomas is due to return after being rested in a decider (go figure), and will partner Keemo Paul who was in the wickets in the ODIs. Bangladesh have struggled against Thomas’ pace, which needs to create an emphasis of powerplay wickets for the Windies’ spinners to then build on. The home side has a tendency to lose powerplay wickets in this format – can the Windies leverage off this effectively?

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Possible Playing XIs

Mehidy Hasan Miraz will likely bat at eight in a Bangladesh side that will benefit from Shakib Al Hasan’s all-round capabilities.

Bangladesh: 1. Tamim Iqbal, 2. Liton Das, 3. Soumya Sarkar, 4. Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5. Shakib Al Hasan (c), 6. Mohammad Mithun, 7. Mahmudullah, 8. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9. Mohammad Saifuddin, 10. Rubel Hossain/Nazmul Islam, 11. Mustafizur Rahman

West Indies have a few different faces for the T20I series. Will it see a turnaround in fortunes?

West Indies: 1. Shai Hope, 2. Evin Lewis, 3. Darren Bravo, 4. Shimron Hetmyer, 5. Denesh Ramdin/Nicholas Pooran (wk), 6. Rovman Powell, 7. Carlos Brathwaite (c), 8. Fabian Allen, 9. Keemo Paul, 10. Khary Pierre, 11. Oshane Thomas

Dream11

Will the Windies be more competitive in the T20 format? Below is my Dream11 team with a few pointers.

• The joys being able to choose Shai Hope and Mushfiqur Rahim in the same side, after both were wicket-keeping in the ODIs.
• Shimron Hetmyer struggled against Mehidy, but he is due a score. Tamim Iqbal is a form player for Bangladesh, and is a good pick.
• Will Soumya Sarkar hold his own against Oshane Thomas? I think so.
• Shakib Al Hasan (c) and Carlos Brathwaite are my all-rounder options.
• Mehidy Hasan Miraz was superb in the ODIs. Mustafizur Rahman, Keemo Paul and Oshane Thomas are all wicket taking options.

READ: Six big predictions for Big Bash League 08 + Fantasy Tips!

Stats and Facts

• West Indies have lost their last five T20Is.
• Bangladesh have won six of their past seven matches against Windies in all formats.
• West Indies have won two of 12 T20Is this year. Bangladesh have four of 13.

Prediction

West Indies will be hoping for a change of fortunes in the change of formats. However, Bangladesh at home look too good a proposition.

Bangladesh to take a 1-0 series lead.

Thanks for reading!

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Bangladesh vs West Indies 1st T20I Preview +Dream11