DHAKA – Another inept batting display sent erratic West Indies to a depressing two-wicket defeat in the final One-Day International (ODI) yesterday, gifting Bangladesh a morale-boosting 3-2 win in the five-match series.
Not for the first time in the series, the highly vaunted West Indies batting line-up struggled against Bangladesh’s varied attack at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, and stumbled to a disappointing 217 all out off 48 overs.
Big-hitting Kieron Pollard emerged from a slump to slam 85 and stylish left-hander Darren Bravo got 51, providing the impetus for West Indies as the remainder of the batting flopped spectacularly.
Seamer Shafiul Islam, in his first ODI in nearly a year, finished with three for 31, while left-arm spinner Mominul Haque claimed two for 14) and off-spinner Mahmudullah two for 38.
When fast bowler Kemar Roach, who snatched five for 56, sliced through the Tigers’ top order to reduce them to 30 for three in the ninth over, West Indies appeared en route to a rousing victory.
However, the outstanding Mahmudullah (48) and captain Mushfiqur Rahim (44) combined in a spirited 91-run, fourth-wicket stand to stabilize the innings, before Nasir Hossain stroked an unbeaten 39 not out down the order, to seal the triumph.
Hossain held his nerves in anxious moments at the end, smashing the final ball of the 44th over from seamer Andre Russell to the third man boundary, to spark celebrations among the 22 000-strong crowd.
The result would have been hard to take for West Indies especially after they lost the first two games in Khulna to fall behind 0-2 in the series but fought back to win the next two in Dhaka.
Once again, their batting was at the core of the chaos, failing to set Bangladesh a decent enough total for their bowlers to defend.
Asked to bat, the Windies plunged to 17 for three off eight overs, with openers Chris Gayle (2) and Kieran Powell (11), along with Marlon Samuels (1), all perishing quickly.
Left-hander Powell charged off-spinner Sohag Gazi, missed and was stumped, while Samuels ill-advisedly tested Mahmudullah’s accuracy from short mid-wicket and was run out by a direct throw.
Without a run added, talisman Gayle, with just 72 runs from five innings in the series, extended his poor form when he cut Shafiul to backward point.
Pollard and Bravo then stitched up the innings with a 132-run, fourth-wicket partnership that laid the foundation for a Windies assault in the final overs.
Pollard, with just 43 runs from his four previous innings, slammed five fours and eight sixes in a 74-ball 85 to lead the revival, while Bravo supported in an innings that contained three fours and a six off 108 balls.
Pollard was moving into high gear when he played around the fifth ball of Mominul Haque’s first spell and lost his off-stump in the 32nd over and captain Darren Sammy lasted six balls before steering Mominul to Jahurul Islam at slip, in the left-armer’s next over.
Bravo and wicketkeeper Devon Thomas (25) put on 37 for the sixth wicket but once Bravo tapped an easy catch to Mominul at cover off Mahmudullah in the 41st over, the last five wickets fell for 29 runs.
Bangladesh were rocked early when Roach prised out the top three of Tamim Iqbal (8), Anamul Haque (0) and Jahurul Islam (10) but two critical stands rescued the innings.
Mahmudullah stroked seven fours off 45 balls and Mushfiqur faced 56 balls and also counted seven boundaries, as they dragged Bangladesh back into a winning position.
After their dismissals, Nasir Hossain found an ally in Mominul (25) and they added 53 for the sixth wicket.
Nasir held the lower order together and saw the team home. (CMC)
