World Cup Betting: Bangladesh v West Indies

Match Previews / Ed Hawkins / 03 March 2011 /

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Tamim Iqbal will look to blast away

"With home advantage, a pitch that suits Bangladesh and West Indies’ ability to hit the self destruct button, it’s not a bet to miss"

Ed Hawkins expects the home side to light the blue touch paper by upsetting the Caribbean outfit in Mirpur on Friday. Follow him on Twitter here

London start time: 08.30

Team news
West Indies' tournament is beginning to unravel. The injury to Dwayne Bravo is a major blow and it leaves them short of class players just when they really need them in tough conditions against a well-supported Bangladesh team.

Much will depend on Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Kemar Roach, who took a hat-trick against the Netherlands last time out.

Bangladesh will look to attack the Caribbean outfit with spin, lots of spin. Shakib-al-Hasan, Abdur Razzak and Mohammad Ashraful are expected to tie them in knots.

Venue and conditions
Bangladesh have won half of the games played at the Shere Bangla stadium in Mirpur. It will spin. It will be slow. It will be low. In other words alien to West Indies. Chasing is tough but the captain who wins the toss is expected to bowl first because of the difficulty gripping the ball with the evening dew.

Match odds
Back Bangladesh at [3.40] to get their tournament up and running. There is very little to choose between the sides, certainly there is not the gulf the market suggests with the Windies [1.40].

Bangladesh have kicked the losing habit - only two reverses in their last 10 - hence their position above West Indies in the ICC rankings. With home advantage, a pitch that suits them and West Indies' ability to hit the self destruct button, it's not a bet to miss.

Top batsman - West Indies
Gayle may well try to blast away Bangladesh up top so it is understandable to see him the favourite at [3.70]. But the conditions and opposition are made for Shiv Chanderpaul to buckle down and excel. He is the value call at [5.00]. He is also a good bet to score a 50 at around [2.00].

Top batsman - Bangladesh
Blaster Tamim Iqbal is a little too short at [4.00] for our liking so Shakib at around [5.5] or Any Other, which includes Ashraful, something of a forgotten talent, at [4.50] might be better wagers.

Featured market
The average first-innings score in the last 10 first-innings on this ground is 230. It would be a surprise if Bangladesh or West Indies could post more than 250 so look to get those stats working for you in-running.

Best bet: Bangladesh to beat West Indies at [3.40]

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