Host Bangladesh went into the first ODI against the Windies with four specialist opening batsmen and created a buzz in the cricketing fraternity.
With experienced opener Tamim Iqbal coming back to the fold, it was expected Liton Das would come out to open the bat for Bangladesh, followed by Soumya Sarkar at No 3.
However, the XI featured Imrul Kayes too, batting at No 3, while Soumya got pushed down to No 6, in place of a middle-order batsman.
Soumya has enough credentials to make it to the XI, having scored a century in the previous ODI series, against Zimbabwe, and a flashy 103 not out in the lone one-day practice game against the West Indians.
@BCBtigers opener @TamimOfficial28 marked his return from injury with a stunning catch of @DMBravo46 at long-off.https://t.co/IjimlVp3iu#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESHCRICKET #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #WINDIES #WESTINDIES #WEST #INDIES #CWI #WINDIESCRICKET #WESTINDIESCRICKET
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) December 9, 2018
But questions were raised as to whether it was a fair enough move by the selectors.
Including Soumya to bat down the order meant middle-order batters in the shape of Mohammad Mithun and Ariful Haque had to give away their spots.
The selection panel might back their decision, citing Soumya’s good form, but then again it remains only half justified.
The middle-order batsmen are meant to bat in the middle, and not make way for a top-order batter in form.
1ST ODI
WEST INDIES INNINGS R B
Powell c Rubel b Shakib 10 27
Hope c Miraz b Mashrafe 43 59
Bravo c Tamim b Mashrafe 19 51
Samuels c Liton b Rubel 25 48
Hetmyer b Miraz 6 13
Rovman c Liton b Mashrafe 14 25
Chase c Miraz b Mustafizur 32 38
Paul c Miraz b Mustafizur 36 28
Roach not out 5 8
Bishoo c & b Mustafizur 0 1
Thomas not out 0 2
Extras (lb 3, w2) 5
Total (50 overs) 195/9
Fall Of Wickets
1-29 (Powell), 2-65 (Bravo), 3-78 (Hope), 4-93 (Hetmyer), 5-119 (Rovman), 6-127(Samuels), 7-178 (Chase), 8-194 (Paul), 9-195 (Bishoo)
Bowling
Miraz 10-0-30-1, Shakib 10-0-36-1, Mustafizur 10-0-35-3, Mashrafe 10-0-30-3 (w1), Rubel 10-0-61-1 (w1)
BANGLADESH INNINGS R B
Tamim c Bishoo b Chase 12 24
Liton b Paul 41 57
Imrul b Thomas 4 2
Mushfiq not out 55 70
Shakib c Hope b Rovman 30 26
Soumya c Rovman b Chase 19 13
Mahmudullah not out 14 21
Extras (lb 6, nb 2, w 13) 21
Total (35.1 Overs) 196/5
Fall Of Wickets
1-37 (Tamim), 2-42 (Imrul), 3-89 (Liton), 4-146 (Shakib), 5-175 (Soumya)
Bowling
Roach 6-0-35-0, Chase 9-1-47-2, Thomas 5-0-34-1, Paul 8-0-37-1, Bishoo 6.1-0-30-0, Rovman 1-0-7-1
Bangladesh won by five wickets, lead series 1-0
MoM: Mashrafe bin Mortaza
