The West Indies beat Bangladesh in the first ODI of the three-match series at Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts on Sunday, December 8. The home team chased down the mammoth target of 296 set by their opponents, thanks to a stroke-filled century scored by Sherfane Rutherford. A vital contribution with the bat in hand by skipper Shai Hope also did help. Rutherford ended his innings a 113, while Hope was out for 86. After a failure by their top order, both batters played solid knocks. They built up a decent partnership to ensure that things remained in order and that the hosts were not embarrassed by a Bangladeshi side that looked out of its depth.
Earlier, Bangladesh stunned scores of home supporters when they put up a gigantic total of 294-6 in their quota of 50 overs. Opener Tanzid Hasan showed the way for the rest of the batters with a run-a-ball 60. At the same time, skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz – stepping in for the injured Najmul Hossain Shanto – played a sedate 101-ball 74. Miraz was assisted towards the end by senior batter Mahmudullah, who scored an even 50 off just 44 balls and remained unbeaten till the end. Mahmudullah’s innings consisted of three boundaries and as many sixes. Jaker Ali, who took the big gloves from regular wicketkeeper Litton Das in this game, scored a 40-ball 48 to help his team get towards such a big total. Alzarri Joseph and Romario Shepherd took two and three wickets for the Windies, respectively.
In reply, the Windies were struck with early blows when their openers departed with the score at 27. At 94-3, things seemed to go the way of the Bangladeshis. However, skipper Hope and Rutherford steadied the ship and ensured that no further harm came to them. The Windies could coast to a comfortable victory after these two batters played responsible knocks and ensured the target became achievable inside fifty overs. After they departed from the crease, Justin Greaves and Roston Chase ensured the game was won with 14 balls to spare. Supporters who had turned up by the thousands at the stadium didn’t have much to worry about.
2nd ODI
The West Indies completed a series win by beating their visitors Bangladesh by seven wickets in the second ODI of the three-match series being played between the two teams at Warner Park in St Kitts on Tuesday, December 10. The visitors batted first in this game and were bowled out for a lowly score of 227 in just 36.5 overs. Seamer Jayden Seales ran through the Bangladeshi batting order and finished with impressive figures of 4-22 in his nine overs. Spinner Gudakesh Motie, too, chipped in with returns of 2-36. All the other West Indian bowlers picked up a wicket apiece in this match.
Bangladesh’s senior batter Mahmudullah was the only player who stood tall amidst the ruins and punished the loose deliveries that the West Indian bowlers sent his way. None of the other Bangladeshi batters seemed confident enough to bat against the home team’s bowlers and, more often than not, threw their wickets away cheaply. Those who did not do so found themselves at the other end of dangerous deliveries to which they had no answers. Mostly, they could not deal with the challenges Seales and company sent their way.
Opener Tanzid Hasan (46) was the only batter in the Bangladeshi lineup to challenge the Windies bowlers. At the same time, pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib threw his bat around wildly towards the end to score a 62-ball 45 with two sixes and four boundaries. The West Indies got off to a good start when they walked out to bat. Both openers Brandon King (82) and Evin Lewis (49) starred with the bat in hand and laid the platform for the rest of the batters to follow. Keacy Carty, who walked in at number three, also played a solid knock of 45 runs off just 47 deliveries. Skipper Shai Hope (17*) and Sherfane Rutherford (24*) remained at the crease towards the end to hit the winning runs and seal the deal for their team. In the third ODI of the series, the West Indies will take on their opponents, Bangladesh, in a dead rubber at the same venue on Thursday, December 12. The West Indies have now taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.
