West Indies v Bangladesh First T20 Tips: Mayers underrated for runs

West Indies v Bangladesh
Saturday 2 July, 18:30
TV: live on BT Sport

Windies go for bat power

West Indies completed an easy-peasy 2-0 win over Bangladesh in the Test series. But there is minimal crossover between the red and white-ball squads. Only three players make the transition.

Kyle Mayers, fast developing as one of the most impressive all-rounders in the world, Alzarri Jospeh and spinner Gudakesh Motie are the trio who transition to a squad led by Nic Pooran and includes only one specialist opener. Brandon King looks certain to bat up top.

Who joins him will be fascinating. It is most likely to be Mayers, although Sharmarh Brooks, Rovman Powell and Odean Smith could be destructive, left-field choices. Smith, the all-rounder who promised so much for Punjab but was ultimately a disaster, will look to rebuild his reputation.

The bowling group doesn't make a huge impression, apart from Joseph and Obed McCoy, who had a good IPL. Fabian Allen, Sheldon Cottrell and Jason Holder have all been deemed surplus to requirements.

Previously West Indies lost three-zip to India, with only one of those a narrow loss, but they beat England 3-2 at the start of the year at home.

Possible XI: King, Mayers, Pooran, Brooks, Powell, Smith, Shepherd, Hosein, Paul, Joseph, McCoy

Bangladesh look weak

Bangladesh are a chaotic bunch and the orchestrator, from afar admittedly, seems to be Shakib-al-Hasan. Barely a selection goes by without will-he won't-he shenanigans from their best player about whether he'll actually play.

Shakib is part of the T20 squad but despite being named in the ODI leg, he had decided he will not play in that section. It doesn't appear to be a happy camp.

All-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz and bowler Taskin Ahmed have been added to the squad after withdrawals by pacers Shohidul Islam and Mohamad Saifuddin and batter Yasir Ali. There is no Tamim Iqbal or Mushfiqur Rahim so much depends on Shakib, Liton Das and skipper Mahmuddulah for runs.

We rate all-rounder Afif Hossein and Mustafizur Rahman, of course, but the tourists look likely to come up short in the competitive stakes.

Possible XI: Das, Shahriar, Shakib, Mahmudullah, Afif, Nurul, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Miraz, Nasum, Shoriful, Mustafizur

Pitch report

There have been only two men's T20s played at Roseau, which is about as unhelpful as it gets and they were eight years ago. West Indies defended 164 versus New Zealand in 2014 while the latter won a rain-affected game in a chase of a target of 117 in 15. A 2010 ODI with South Africa was full of runs with both notching 300 and the Proteas winning easily batting second.

That's a hint that it is flat. West Indies' average run rate in 2022 (eight matches) is 8.51 so 170 if they bat first should be a minimum. We would expect the runs par line to be set higher, possibly 175.5. Bet the market here.

Backing more than 190 or 200 at chunky prices from the off are options. Alternatively expecting 50 or 50 from the final four overs can also pay off because they are blessed with death hitters. Bet the runs markets here.

Match odds

West Indies are 1.444/9, which is the sort of price you would expect. Of course we won't be backing that. It's way too short.

So the ploy is to get with the Bangladesh for a trade but with a caveat. They can trade shorter with a fast six-over start because, up front with the bat in Das and Shakib, they have some quality. Make a note of 2.206/5 for the price to do the work.

We're not convinced that Bangladesh will keep things tight in the first six with the ball, however. Nor at the death. West Indies, if they don't get off to a flyer, should be capable of that fast finish. Bet the match odds here

Tops value

Mayers is 7/2 for top Windies bat with Sportsbook. It's a bit of value because we expect him to open. He did so against India and England. He also has form from the Test series. Brooks at 3/1, and Pooran and King are all shorter at 10/3. Romario Shepherd and Akeal are eye-catching at 55 and 33 respectively. Both could be promoted in an expected fluid West Indies batting order.

For Bangladesh, Afif is an old favourite but Sportsbook have him about right at 13/2. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who has got used to the conditions during the Test series is probably underrated at 33s for top Bangladesh bat. Bet the Sportsbook markets here.