West Indies will be facing Bangladesh in the series-deciding third T20I at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Thursday, July 7. This will be a must-win encounter for both sides. If the West Indies win, they seal the series while a victory for Bangladesh would mean that the series ends in a stalemate. The Windies are currently 1-0 up in the series having registered an impressive 35-run victory in the last game. Notably, the series-opener in Dominica was washed out.
While all eyes will be on the Caribbeans to complete a series win, a lot will be expected from a demoralized Bangladesh unit who found themselves short in a stiff run chase in the second T20I despite veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan remaining at the crease right till the end. Opener Brandon King laid a solid foundation with a splendid half-century before the middle-order batters Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell took them to a total in excess of 190.
The bowlers then applied the brakes on Bangladesh’s momentum with no one apart from Shakib and Afif Hossain showing resistance. Even though Shakib was the last man standing, the steep asking rate meant that it was well beyond his capacity to pull off any miracle single-handedly.
The pitch at Providence Stadium, Guyana is a balanced surface. It is expected to be a paradise for the pacers who will be able to make merry on this in the initial phase of the innings and the spinners getting advantage in the middle overs.
Probable playing XI:
West Indies:
Kyle Mayers, Brandon King, Shamarh Brooks, Nicholas Pooran (c), Rovman Powell, Devon Thomas (wk), Odean Smith, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Obed McCoy, Hayden Walsh
Bangladesh:
Munim Shahriar, Liton Das, Anamul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah (c), Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan (wk), Mahedi Hasan, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed
