After levelling the ODI series 1-1 against West Indies, West Indies is looking forward to ending their series drought in the decider in Friday. Visiting skipper Rovman Powell has stated that his men are ‘upbeat and confident’ of clinching the deciding one-day international against Bangladesh and sealing their first series win in four years.
“It is on the tip of everyone's tongue. West Indies haven't won an ODI series for quite some time. This is a grand opportunity to change it. The guys are upbeat and confident of doing it,” Powell said.
A win would remove some sting from West Indies' humiliating drubbing by Bangladesh in the Test series in November and December, when the home side wrapped up both matches inside three days.
Powell said his side had to improve on their winning flair displayed in the second ODI.
Opener Shai Hope hit a career-best 146 off 144 balls not out, as West Indies toppled Bangladesh's 255-7 with two balls in hand to complete their first win in the tour.
“We have to work on all three aspects of the game. One game doesn't change the fact that we are still not batting as well as a team. We still need to work on our bowling and fielding,” Powell said.
Pace bowler Oshane Thomas worked up some lively pace to leave Bangladeshi batsmen unsettled in both the games.
“Bangladeshis don't like fast bowling. We are definitely looking to exploit it. Hopefully tomorrow we can do that,” Powell said.
West Indies won Tuesday's match in Dhaka by four wickets after losing the opener, levelling the three-match contest 1-1 and setting the stage for a series decider in Sylhet on Friday. The Caribbean side last won an ODI series in 2014 at home against Bangladesh and are desperate to end the drought.
Since then, they have capitulated in 11 series, managing their best result with a draw against minnows Afghanistan last year.
They came close to defeating Bangladesh in July on home soil, suffering a 2-1 loss. In October, they went down to India 3-1.