West Indies vs Bangladesh 2nd ODI …
… Tigers seal series
By Clifton Ross
BANGLADESH captain Tamim Iqbal stroked a classy half-century while his spinners pulled out all the tricks from their bags, as the Tigers steamrolled West Indies by 9 wickets, surging to a series win, with Saturday’s final match being an opportunity to complete a possible 3-nil whitewash.
A shoddy batting exhibition told the tale of what could be arguably one of the worst ODI batting performances at Providence by the Windies, who were strangled by the Bangladeshi bowlers who kept them to a mediocre 108 all out in 35 overs.
Again, it was the class of off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who eased his way to returns of 4-29 from 8 overs. His partner in crime, left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed bagged 3-19 and was named man-of-the-match thereafter, as the pair outfoxed almost the entire Windies batting order.
All-rounder Keemo Paul top-scored at the backend of the game with 25 off 24, smacking four boundaries and was easily the best West Indies batter on show amidst the carnage.
Openers Shai Hope (18) and Kyle Mayers (17), along with some meagre contributions from Brandon King (11) and Rovman Powell (13) managed to add to the low total, but all failed to capitalise on the good batting surface and conditions.
Bangladesh wrapped up the chase easily scoring 112-1 in 20.4 overs, after their skipper led the way with an unbeaten 50 off 62 deliveries.
The left-hander played the best innings of the match, cracking 7 fours as he led his team to the series win after losing the Tests and T20s.
Iqbal found support from opener Najmul Shanto (20), with whom he shared 48 for the opening stand. When Shanto fell to lone wicket-taker, left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie (1-39), Bangladesh then stepped up the pace on course to victory.
An incoming Litton Das thumped the Windies bowlers around for a brisk 32 not out off 27 with 6 fours. Das, along with his skipper, added an aggressive, unbroken second-wicket partnership of 64 runs off 51 balls, effectively sealing an emphatic win for the Tigers.
Bangladesh elected to field, Windies got off to another horror show despite near-perfect weather for cricket and lost their top four in a struggle to reach the team’s first 50 inside 20 overs.
Apart from Mayers, who was knocked over by seamer Mosaddek Hossain (1-37) with a banger of a delivery, it was the guile and methodical approach by Nasum which rattled the home side.
An uncomfortable-looking Hope grinded at the top of the order, as his 18 came from 45 balls, following his duck in the first ODI.
However, he was out, caught off the bowling of Nasum, who then bamboozled Shamarh Brooks, knocking over his stumps with ease for just 5 runs.
Wicket-keeper Nicholas Pooran attempted a reverse sweep off the first delivery he faced from Nasum – one which spun into him, crashing into his woodwork for an unwanted duck.
Soon after the collapse, the Windies 50 came up in the 22nd over as Powell and King sought to consolidate after a shaky start, adding 24 for the 5th wicket.
But when Mehidy bowled King and left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam (1-9) had Powell out caught off Mahmudullah, things went terribly downhill as wickets fell quickly to some careless shots.
The team’s 100 eventually came up in the 34th over as Paul carried his bat while finding the ropes before running out of partners.
The 3rd and final ODI bowls off on Saturday..
