Bangladesh sweep West Indies ODI series 3-0 with crushing 120-run win

Bangladesh produced an impressive batting display to crush the West Indies by 120 runs in the final ODI in Chattogram and complete a 3-0 clean sweep of the series.

Sports Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 25 Jan 2021, 09:53 AM
Updated : 25 Jan 2021, 06:18 PM

After being asked to bat first by the visitors, captain Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah scored 64 each while Shakib Al Hasan made 51 in a finely paced innings at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Monday.

The Caribbean batsmen could not put up a fight in their chase of the steep target of 298 as they kept losing wickets regularly. Only Rovman Powell (47) made a statement with the bat, mirroring his efforts in the first two games.

Mohammad Saifuddin returned figures of three for 51, while Tigers quick Mustafizur Rahman and offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz grabbing two wickets apiece.

The clean sweep of the 50-over games delivered Bangladesh 30 points in the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League, serving as part of the 2023 Cricket World Cup qualification process.

The hosts stumbled at the outset of their innings losing opener Liton Das (1) in the fifth ball of the day before Nazmul Hossain Shanto (20) fell to Kyle Mayers to put the Tigers in a tight spot at 38 for two.

However, Tamim and Shakib, who was reprieved without a run to his name, steadied the ship by adding 93 runs for the third wicket and forged a foundation for the total.

Starting off watchfully, the duo cracked six boundaries and a six between themselves while often opting for quick ones and two. The left-handed opener reached his fifty off 70 deliveries before launching his Caribbean counterpart Jason Mohammed for a six inside out.

As Tamim looked to hit the gas, he was taken out by Alzarri and in came Mushfiqur, who now held the record for the highest number of ODIs by a Bangladesh in his 221st game.

At the other end, Shakib had been uncharacteristically watchful through his 81-ball innings, but he was foxed by a Raymon Reifer slower having reached his 48th ODI half-century. It also ended his 48-run stand with Mushfiqur and brought Mahmudullah into action.

Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah picked things up with regular runs all round the wicket leaving the Caribbean bowlers at their wits end. The 33-year-old wicketkeeper batsman then bludgeoned Reifer for a six before taking a single to complete his 38th half-century.

Reifer exacted revenge on Mushfiqur soon but Mahmudullah lifted his team with three boundaries and a six, reached his 22nd half-century off 40 deliveries and sensationally helped his team smash 100 off the last 10 overs.

In reply, the Caribbeans once again lost both of their openers Kjorn Ottley (1) and Sunil Ambris (13) to Mustafizur.

Saifuddin then swung the ball both ways and went through the gates of Nkrumah Bonner (31) as the visitors crumbled to 93 for five.

Although the outcome was becoming increasingly apparent, Powerll held on and cracked two boundaries and two sixes in his 49-ball innings before Soumya Sarker trapped him in front to make his only mark in the game after contributing just 7 with the bat.

On his return, Taskin Ahmed was the one to seal the triumph with a return catch as the Tigers crafted a great comeback to international cricket.

Both Mustafizur (2-24) and Miraz were (2-18) were economic in their 10 overs quota.

Adjudged Man of the Match, Mushfiqur said, "When your team needs the runs most, it is good to get them. The way the players batted, a lot of credit also goes to the bowlers. In the first two matches, I didn't get a lot of chances, but today I would have loved to have stayed not out.

“It means everything to me, because we all missed international cricket over the last 10-12 months. All the guys have played well. We were clinical right from the start, and we deserve a lot of cricket. In Tests, they have a bit more experienced sides... We have to put these performances aside"

At the post match presentation ceremony, skipper Tamim said, "The hunger that the boys showed, coming back into international cricket after such a long time, was appreciable. The guys had two tournaments, but the effort they put in was great.

“I think going forward, you will have to have some players miss some series, because staying away from your family in a bubble is not easy. We wanted a hundred from our top 5, and today was an opportunity. We couldn't get that. Last two games,

“if we had won by 7 or 8 wickets, I would have been happier. There was a time when we had to look for fast bowlers, and we couldn't find any. Now we have so many fast bowlers, and some waiting in the wings."

Brief Scores:

Bangladesh: 297 for 6 (Mahmudullah 64*, Iqbal 64, Rahim 64, Shakib 51, Joseph 2-48)

West Indies: 177 (Powell 47, Saifuddin 3-51, Mustafizur 2-24, Miraz 2-18)

Result: Bangladesh beat West Indies by 120 runs

Series: Bangladesh 3 - 0 West Indies