Tigers off to a promising start

Bangladesh got off to a brilliant start in the first ODI of their three-match series against West Indies at the Providence Stadium in Guyana today. 

Electing to bowl, the Tigers reduced the hosts to 45 for two after 17 overs in a game that has been reduced to 41-overs-a-side due to overnight rain in Guyana. 

The relentless showers in the past two days also meant that the spinners are getting a lot of assistance from the pitch. 

The first to strike for the Tigers, however, was Mustafizur Rahman as the left-arm pacer removed Shai Hope with his very first delivery in the game. A fuller length inswinging delivery had Hope undone as it got inside edge of the right-hander's willow before hitting his pads and crashing onto his stumps. 

Off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz was the next to dismiss Kyle Mayers when extra turn and bounce off the pitch saw Mayers completely miss his shot as the ball went onto hit the off stump. 

Bangladesh could have had Windies in further trouble. Debutant Nasum Ahmed saw a very controversial LBW review go against him while Mayers could have been dismissed earlier as he saw a Miraz delivery go between the keeper and first slip for a boundary after a thick edge off his bat. 

The Tigers have kept things tight so far, mostly with spinners operating from both ends. The fact that the Windies batters could only score a solitary run between overs six to nine should be enough to realise how hard it has been for the Windies batters out in the middle today. 

However, Shamarh Brooks seems to have settled himself down as he remains unbeaten on 28 off 54 deliveries.