Home ›› 12 May 2023 ›› Sport
Bangladesh National Men’s Cricket Team’s first One-Day International of their three-match series against Ireland in Chelmsford, England was washed away due to rain and ahead of the second match today, the weather continues to be the biggest threat for the match to go on.
On Tuesday, Bangladesh, batting first, managed 246-9, courtesy of Mushfiqur Rahim’s 61 and Najmul Hossain Shanto’s 44. Then, they had picked up three wickets for 65 runs in 16.3 overs, ensuring they were in the driving seat of the game, at least at that point.
However, then came heavy rainfall, and puddles of water formed on the field, leading to the match being called off.
According to the weather reports in England, the same vice might play the villain again today as there were high chances of rain during the first five hours of the match. Among those five, three in the middle have an 80% chance of rain.
According to Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam, though, they are not bothered by the possibility of rain.
“It’s (rain) not in our hands. If it is in our hands (to ensure the use of DLS by reaching minimum limits), we will try,” he told the media on Thursday.
The pacer added their only goal was to win, “Of course, we will play for the win. There is no other plan. The basic plan is to grab that win.”
Bangladesh will be hoping for a better batting performance, and the way their tail was exposed in the first ODI, would not have pleased the management.
That might lead to the debut of bowling all-rounder Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, who is quite handy with the bat in the lower order. If he is indeed included, he will come into the XI in place of Taijul Islam. Bangladesh might also add Yasir Ali Chowdhury to the XI to add more depth to their batting.
Bangladesh would want a repeat of their bowling performance from the first match, where both Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud showed great aptitude with the ball, especially the latter as he troubled the Irish batters regularly, and bowled their skipper Andy Balbirnie with a beautiful inswinger.
“This was my first time out in England. The wicket was very good. There was bounce and swing. I tried to keep my line and length intact as much as possible and express myself. The start was pretty good,” Hasan sounded content after the first ODI.
He had also praised Shoriful for his efforts, and the left-arm pacer is looking to improve in the long term.
“I am now working on finding swing. If I have pace and the ability to swing the ball both ways, then hopefully, there will be something good,” Shoriful said.
The match will start at 3:45 PM Bangladesh time.
