Dhaka: Bangladesh beat West Indies comfortably by seven wickets in the second ODI, to take unassailable 2-0 lead in three-match series at the Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, here on Friday.
With this win, Bangladesh moved up to the third spot in the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League standings. They now have 20 points with two wins in two games.
After bowling out inexperienced West Indies batting line-up for 148, Bangladesh batsmen, led by captain Tamim Iqbal and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, chased down the total in just 33.2 overs.
The West Indies captain Jason Mohammed won the toss and decided to bat first.
Opener Sunil Ambris was dismissed within the first five overs, Mustafizur Rahman sending him back for a 15-ball six, but Kjorn Ottley and Joshua Da Silva put on an attritional partnership of 26 off 50 deliveries.
However, when the breakthrough came, more wickets quickly followed. Mehidy Hasan Miraz had both Ottley and Da Silva dismissed in the same over, within the space of four deliveries.
Shakib Al Hasan, in his first over, then had Andre McCarthy bowled and when Kyle Mayers was run out for nought thereafter, the visitors seemed in dire straits at 41/5. They did well thereafter to get to a total of 148.
Nkrumah Bonner and captain Jason Mohammed put on a 26-run stand to revive the innings, and once the stand was broken - Shakib had Mohammed trapped in front - Rovman Powell came into the middle.
Powell sealed up one end thereafter, putting on partnerships of 17 with Raymon Reifer (2), of 32 with Alzarri Joseph (17) and of 28 runs with Akeal Hosein (12). Powell scored 66-ball 41 to revive the innings, and give their bowlers something to bowl at.
However, the total posed little problem to the Bangladesh batsmen. Tamim, the captain, led from the front, scoring a 76-ball 50 to lay the foundations of the chase, putting on 30 with Liton Das for the opening wicket, and 47 with Najmul Hossain Shanto (17) for the second wicket.
Tamim and Shakib then added a quick 32 for the third wicket to propel the chase, and despite Tamim’s dismissal shortly after reaching his milestone, Shakib’s 43* helped see the chase through. (UNI)
