Bangladesh-West Indies Final: Rain stops play

Desk Report: The play of Tri-Nation Series final match between Bangladesh and West Indies has been stopped temporarily with the onset of heavy rain.

Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bowl first against West Indies at Malahide Cricket Club in Malahide, Dublin on Friday.

Despite some good bowling effort from the Bangladeshi bowlers, Windies' openers Shai Hope and Sunil Ambris look well set on the crease after the duo scored 68 and 59, respectively.

Tigers advanced to the final as the unbeaten team. West Indies lost to Bangladesh twice at the league stage but managed to win two matches against hosts Ireland.

Bangladesh are playing without their ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan who is recovering from a side spasm he sustained in the last group stage match against Ireland.

Bangladesh played six finals in the last decade but failed to win any of them. Asia Cup 2018 was the last time they capitulated to India in the final. Before that, Bangladesh lost two finals of Asia Cup - one in 2012 against Pakistan and another against India in 2016.

Apart from these, Bangladesh lost three tri-nation finals. Two of them were against Sri Lanka in 2009 and 2018, and the other one was against India in 2018 (Nidahas Trophy).

So, the latest final came as an opportunity for the Tigers to create history. Mashrafe’s men are upbeat to pass the final hurdle.

Bangladesh made four changes. Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mustafizur Rahman came back to replace Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Abu Jayed Rahi and Rubel Hossain.

It means Farhad Reza, Yasir Ali and Taskin Ahmed might need to back home without playing any game in Ireland.

Bangladesh playing XI: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza(c), Mustafizur Rahman

West Indies playing XI: Shai Hope(w), Sunil Ambris, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Jonathan Carter, Jason Holder(c), Fabian Allen, Ashley Nurse, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel

risingbd/Dhaka/May 17, 2019/AKA