WI take unbeatable 2-0 lead
The Tigers threatened a repeat of their dismal World Cup show in the early stages, losing three wickets for one run, but the home team rode on two half centuries from captain Mushfiqur Rahim and Nasir Hossain to put up a decent total of 220 runs on the board. In the end, however, the total proved insufficient on a good batting track as West Indies clinched the three-match one-day series with a comfortable eight-wicket victory in the second match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
There had been a lot of talk about the inexperienced batting of the new-look Caribbean team prior to the series but in both matches they applied themselves brilliantly to outclass the home side’s ordinary bowling attack. The much talked about Bangladesh slow bowlers hardly made any impact so far, though some deliveries from left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan troubled the West Indies batsmen. It was evident that the Caribbean cricketers had done some good homework before taking them on in the series.
After an easy sail in the first game where the visitors won by 40 runs, Darren Sammy’s boys put in another clinical performance in the day-night affair against the reckless batting and toothless bowling of Mushfiqur Rahim’s men to take the one-day series without any major resistance from their opponents and with one match in hand.
West Indies reached the target in 42.4 overs, losing their two openers who gave a solid foundation, scoring 71 runs in the opening stand to defy the home side. Like the first match West Indies started cautiously but played shots all over the park once they settled down. Interestingly enough, more than fifty percent of the runs came from boundaries as a total of 17 boundaries and eight sixes flew off the bat of the men in maroon caps, thanks largely to Marlon Samuels who continued his good form by smashing twelve fours and one six during his unbeaten 74-ball 88. Fresh from his maiden ODI hundred in the first game, Lendl Simmons scored 80 off 125 balls with three fours and as many sixes before he was trapped in front by the only successful Bangladesh bowler Shakib, who gave the first breakthrough when dismissed Danza Haytt.
Hyatt, who was dropped by Shakib off Rubel Hossain at deep square leg, showed some big hitting prowess, smashing four sixes and two fours in his 46-ball 39 before he was brilliantly caught by Rubel at long-off.
It was however a story of sordid batting from the Tigers. Mushfiqur once again won the toss and this time he decided to bat first as it was estimated that the wicket would become slower as the match wore on.
But the senseless top order batting made it clear that the Tigers were going to have to endure another big defeat. The wickets stumbled so quickly that some fans, who were trying to buy tickets at a hiked price outside the stadium, became confused as to whether there was any point in entering the ground.
Mushfiqur however stayed firm to bring some smiles on their faces with a brilliant recovery act and he had Alok Kapali and Naeem Islam to repair the huge damage after Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mohammad Ashraful and Shakib paid the prices for poor shot selections.
Mushfiqur returned to the dressing room making 69 off 109 balls, featuring two fours and a six and after his dismissal it was Nasir Hossain who along with Abdur Razzak helped the team to cross the two hundred mark. Nasir hit his second ODI fifty (50 off 54 balls), giving the innings impetus by smashing 16 runs off the 48 th over bowled by Andre Russell.
In his 100th ODI match, Mushfiqur salvaged some pride by playing a fine captain’s knock, but the outcome of the match definitely left many questions to be answered in the series.
SCORES IN BRIEF
BANGLADESH: 220 all out in 48.5 overs (Mushfiqur 69, Nasir 50, Naeem 30, Razzak 25, Kapali 20; Roach 3-49, Rampaul 2-27, Sammy 2-42)
WEST INDIES: 221 for 2 in 42.4 overs (Samuels 88 not out, Simmons 80, Hyatt 39; Shakib 2-30)
Result: West Indies won by 8 wickets.
Man-of-the-match: Marlon Samuels.
-With The Daily Star input
