Shakib, Liton fire Bangladesh to record World Cup win against West Indies

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan scored his second century in as many World Cup matches while Liton Das hit an unbeaten 94 as they thumped two-time champions West Indies by seven wickets on Monday.

and Sport CorrespondentReuters
Published : 17 June 2019, 01:48 PM
Updated : 18 June 2019, 09:28 PM

Set a target of 322- the second-highest chase in World Cup history - Shakib took complete control with a swashbuckling unbeaten 124 off 99 balls, and his ninth ODI hundred guided Bangladesh home with 51 balls to spare.

The 32-year-old became only the second Bangladesh player to cross 6,000 runs in ODIs after Tamim Iqbal, making his fourth consecutive 50-plus score to move past Australia skipper Aaron Finch as the tournament's top scorer with 384 runs.

Openers Tamim and Soumya Sarkar (29 off 23) gave Bangladesh an ideal start, compiling a quick-fire half century stand before the partnership ended in the ninth over with the score at 52 

However, the dismissals of Tamim (48 off 53) and Mushfiqur Rahim (1 off 5) in quick succession threatened to derail the chase in the middle of the innings. 

But Shakib and Liton ensured that the momentum stayed with Bangladesh as they ruthlessly dismantled the West Indies bowling by hitting boundaries at regular intervals.

Bangladesh take on holders Australia in their next match on Thursday while West Indies play New Zealand on Saturday. 

Earlier, West Indies wicketkeeper batsman Shai Hope produced a patient 96 while opener Evin Lewis and Shimron Hetmyer also made half-centuries to help the Caribbean side post a competitive total from 50 overs after being asked to bat first.

Hope anchored the innings superbly with his 121-ball knock while Lewis hit 70 to lay a strong platform, before Hetmyer's 26-ball 50 and skipper Jason Holder's 33 off 15 balls boosted the West Indies total.

Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field first, making one change to their line-up with Liton Das replacing Mohammad Mithun

For the Caribbeans, left-handed batsmen Darren Bravo replaced Carlos Brathwaite in their line-up.

Bangladesh XI: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Liton Das, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Mustafizur Rahman

West Indies XI: Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope (wk), Darren Bravo, Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder (c), Andre Russell, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas, Shannon Gabriel