Bangladesh beat West Indies to seal series

DHAKA-Bangladesh made it two wins in a row against West Indies, coasting to a seven-wicket victory in the second ODI in Dhaka on Friday, 22 January and moving up to the third spot in the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League standings.

Bangladesh now have 20 points with two wins in two games. Once again, their attack proved too much for the inexperienced West Indies batting line-up, the visitors being bundled out for 148. The Bangladesh batsmen, led by captain Tamim Iqbal and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, then chased down the total in just 33.2 overs. West Indies opted to bat, their batsmen seemingly determined to be more resistant than they were in the first ODI. 

Opener Sunil Ambris was still dismissed within the first five overs, Mustafizur Rahman sending him back for a 15-ball six, but Kjorn Ottley and Joshua Da Silva put on an attritional partnership of 26 off 50 deliveries. However, when the breakthrough came, more wickets quickly followed. Mehidy Hasan Miraz had both Ottley and Da Silva dismissed in the same over, within the space of four deliveries. Ottley slashed at one, only to find the fielder, while Da Silva was bowled when he failed to pick up Mehidy’s line.

Shakib Al Hasan, in his first over, then had Andre McCarthy bowled and when Kyle Mayers, West Indies’ highest-scorer in the first ODI, was run out for nought thereafter, the visitors seemed in dire straits at 41/5.  They did well thereafter to get to a total of 148. Nkrumah Bonner and captain Jason Mohammed put on a 26-run stand to revive the innings, and once the stand was broken – Shakib had Mohammed trapped in front – Rovman Powell came into the middle. 

Powell sealed up one end thereafter, putting on partnerships of 17 with Raymon Reifer (2), of 32 with Alzarri Joseph (17) and of 28 runs with Akeal Hosein (12). Powell scored 66-ball 41 to revive the innings, and give their bowlers something to bowl at. However, the total posed little problem to the Bangladesh batsmen. 

SCORES IN BRIEF

BANGLADESH 149 for 3 (Iqbal 50, Shakib 43*, Reifer 1-18) beat WEST INDIES 148 (Powell 41, Mehidy 4-25, Mustafizur 2-15) by seven wickets.