On Sunday’s opening match at the Providence National Stadium, Guyana, Bangladesh defeated Windies by 48 runs after opener Tamim Iqbal launched his 10th One-Day International (ODI) century while Shakib Al Hasan narrowly missed out on his own.
After losing the Test series 2-0, the Tigers resumed their winning ways in a format which is more tailored to their style of cricket, as they outplayed the Caribbean side in the first of three ODIs in the series.
It was a mixture of grit and aggression as Iqbal ended on 130 off 160 balls with 10 fours and three sixes. He shared a resurgent and revitalising second-wicket stand of 207 with Shakib Al Hasan, who hit six fours in his 97 to take the Tigers to 279-4 in 50 overs.
It was hard work for the Windies bowlers as the misfielded and dropped catches added to the bowlers’ turmoil.
Spinner Devendra Bishoo ended with 2-52 in a brave effort. The Caribbean side who looked spot on in the Tests, were unable to channel the same fire the Tigers did in their innings and were kept to 231-9 in 50 overs.
Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza was the pick of the bowlers, returning to the team in a match-winning way.
Guyanese Shimron Hetmyer resisted with a top-score of 52, followed by Chris Gayle with 40, and 29 apiece from the unbeaten tail-end stars Bishoo and Alzarri Joseph as their 50-partnership ended prematurely. Bangladesh’s star pacer Mustafizur Rahman returned to action with 2-27.
Windies’ chase got underway with some feisty shots from Evin Lewis (17), who looked dangerous but played a soft shot and was easily caught by Mahmudullah to give the Bangladesh skipper his first wicket.
A circumspect-looking Gayle was then joined by Shai Hope, who also appeared a bit watchful, but the “Universe Boss” would soon get into the action when he thumped off-spinner Mehedy Hasan Miraz for his first six. Mosaddek Hossain would then manage another breakthrough when he trapped Hope LBW for just six runs.
Homeboy Hetmyer joined Gayle with the score at 41-2 and the left-hander quickly secured his first boundary thanks to a classy pull through mid-wicket off Hossain which also took Windies well past 50 in the 15th over. Gayle’s and Hetmyer’s partnership ended with a mix-up as the former was run out thanks to some clinical work between Mahmudullah and Mosaddek Hossain.
Jason Mohammed had a brief stay at the crease, departing stumped for 10 by Mushfiqur Rahim off the bowling of Mehedy. Unfazed by the previous dismissals, the Berbician Hetmyer pleased his Guyanese crowd when he raised his bat to acknowledge a solid fifty under pressure.
His demise came at the hands of Sabbir Rahman, who was operating with such precision that he went on a hat-trick after he followed up his first wicket with that of Rovman Powell, who edged a moving delivery into the gloves of wicket-keeper Rahman.
The wheels began to fall off the Caribbean wagon as Holder who smashed a six off his opposite number Mortaza, was then removed the following ball by the Bangladeshi skipper for 17. After hitting a six and four and looking ominous, Andre Russell (13) became Mortaza’s third victim.
The Windies innings eventually came to a screeching halt when Mortaza removed Nurse for seven, but Bishoo and Joseph counterpunched with a last-wicket partnership of 59 not out, the best for their team, but in vain.
The second of two ODIs will bowl off at Providence on Wednesday, July 25 from 14:30h. (Clifton Ross)
