By Clifton Ross at Providence

BANGLADESH reversed their bad luck as they recorded their first win of the tour, thanks to some magic from spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz, coupled with a blistering spell from pacer Shoriful Islam, which helped the tourists to a much-needed 6-wicket win over the West Indies (Windies) yesterday at the Providence Stadium.

It was the West Indies ninth straight one-day international defeat to Bangladesh.

It was a like night and day, when compared to the T20’s, as the home team struggled to score and keep wickets in hand, mustering a mere 149-9 in 40.6 overs of their allotted reduced quota of 41 overs-per-side.

West Indies were hugely indebted to tailenders, Anderson Phillip (21*) and Jayden Seales (16*) who added 39 for the last wicket — the team’s highest partnership of the innings.

Shamarh Brooks top-scored with 33, but apart from skipper Nicholas Pooran (18) and all-rounder Romario Shepherd (16), not much came out of the Windies camp.

Bangladesh looked a completely different unit, playing more aggressive cricket as they have been known to do in this format, especially their bowlers. However, they managed to spill roughly four catches, which could have resulted in a much swifter result.

Islam, the left-arm pacer was lethal during his spell, bagging 4-34 from his allotted 8 overs. Off-break spinner and Man-of-the-Match Mehidy Hasan spun ‘webs’ around the batsmen, bagging 3 for 36 from 9 overs, as he and Islam were solely responsible for the West Indies’ horrible collapse.

Bangladesh, in the end, easily reached 151-4 in 31. 5 overs after some good individual knocks. Guyanese left-arm spinner, Gudakesh Moti, made his Windies ODI debut and starred with marvelous figures of 1-18 from 9 overs.

After missing the T20’s, ODI captain, Tamim Iqbal, spanked four fours and a six at the top of the order as he scored 33 upon return to action.

When Iqbal was run out, the lion’s share of the chase saw the veteran Mahmudullah seeing his team safely across the line with an unbeaten 41.

Najmul Shanto crafted a solid 37 as he found the ropes on five occasions, while sharing a 3rd wicket stand of 49 along with Mahmudullah.

Wicket-keeper/batsman Nurul Hasan hit a six and one four during his unbeaten knock of 20. Alongside Mahmudullah, the pair were involved in an unbroken 40-run partnership for the 5th wicket, which helped their side secure an all-important win.

Earlier in the day, following a few inspections after rain, the West Indies sought to make the most of their reduced overs, but instead found themselves in a heap of bother.

First, Windies best batsman, Shai Hope (00) had his return to the side spoiled on the first ball, when left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman (1-27) disturbed his stumps with a beauty.

In-form opener Kyle Mayers (10) hit two fours during his brief stay before a wily Mehidy outfoxed him with a delivery which crashed into his wicket.

After looking aggressive, Brooks gave his wicket away with a relatively lackluster shot which broke his edge and sailed into the gloves of the keeper, to give Islam his first scalp.

The pacer Islam struck again, this time removing a struggling Brandon King who had a tough time in the middle, scoring eight off 31 balls with no boundaries.

By the time Windies had reached their team’s 50, their top-order was already back in the dugout. Pooran and Rovman Powell (9) both then fell victim to some ‘Mehidy Magic’, as the skipper was bowled cleanly while the latter was trapped LBW.

The Guyanese pair of Moti and Shepherd sneak in a few shots to help take West Indies past the 100-run mark but wickets continued to tumble, eventually leaving the home team with more work to do.