Tony Becca - FROM THE BOUNDARY THE WEST Indies have won the first two matches of the one-day international series against Bangladesh and, with one to go, should make it a perfect three from three.
Although the West Indies are not near as strong as they once were and even though they are without star batsman Brian Lara, looking at the two teams, two out of two against Bangladesh is not surprising, neither should three from three. In fact, the surprise will be if it doesn't happen.
Such have been the West Indies' performances in recent times that there are a number of West Indians who are not confident it will happen - to the extent that although they are up against Bangladesh and not teams such as Australia or South Africa, although West Indies won the rain-affected second match fairly comfortably, they are simply keeping their fingers crossed and hoping for the best.
The reason for that is the narrow escape in the first match when Bangladesh, not Australia or South Africa, not England or India, went to within one wicket of defeating the West Indies in a low-scoring affair.
Fielding first, the West Indies, through fast bowler Tino Best, who picked up two wickets in the first over, had Bangladesh reeling at zero for two, five for three, 52 for six, 82 for eight. At that time it appeared the match was as good as over with the home team cruising to victory.
FAILED TO SURPRISE
The West Indies of recent times have never failed to surprise and, after looking so lethal, failed to pick up another wicket as Bangladesh batted to the end of the allotted 50 overs.
Even then, with or without Lara and regardless of the pitch, 145 to win in 50 overs against a team that had won only four one-day matches in 85 attempts, should have been easy.
So it appeared with the total on 81 for two with Ricardo Powell, Shivnarine Chanderpaul at the crease, captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, Dwayne Bravo, Dwayne Smith and Ridley Jacobs to come. Also at 119 for four with Sarwan and Bravo going well, Smith and Jacobs to come.
FACING DEFEAT
In an embarrassing performance, the West Indies lost five wickets for 14 runs and were facing defeat at 133 for nine before Ian Bradshaw and Fidel Edwards dragged them home in the 47th over.
Although batting collapses are nothing strange in West Indies cricket these days, to be on the verge of victory against Bangladesh and to almost lose, underlines something is wrong with West Indies cricket.
After all that has happened to them, after what both the captain and the manager said before the match, it cannot be that the West Indies under-rated Bangladesh and took them for granted.
If, after all the talk, all the promises, that the West Indies would not take Bangladesh lightly, that was in fact the reason why, with so many overs to go and only 12 runs to get, Sarwan was caught on the mid-wicket boundary, Smith was stumped, Jacobs and Bravo were run-out, then something is really wrong. Either so or those who believe West Indies without Lara are not better than Bangladesh are correct.
Looking at both teams, the West Indies, Lara or no Lara, are better than Bangladesh and although it could easily have been 1-1, they should make it three out of three in the one-day internationals and barring rain, go on to win the two Test matches.
The West Indies are no longer top class, but all things considered, including the fickleness of the home team's batting, Bangladesh are not in their class, even though they went to within one wicket of an upset victory on opening day in St. Vincent.
