A magnificent bowling performance by Mashrafe Mortaza and Mustafizur Rahman helped Bangladesh to take 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series beating visiting West Indies by five wickets in the first match in Dhaka on Sunday (Dec 9).
Chasing a moderate winning target of 196-run set by west Indies Bangladesh comfortably reached home in 35.1 overs with five wickets in hand at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur, reports BSS.
Thanks to Mushfiqur Rahim for his match- winning unbeaten fifty after the bowlers paved the way for the Bangladesh’s victory.
Bangladesh has sent Liton Das and Tamim Iqbal to open the innings in their chase of West Indies score of 195. But Tamim fell to Roston Chase after scoring 12 runs while Oshane Thomas sent back to one down Imfrul Kayes for 4.
Another opener Liton Das looked good with bat making 41 runs before he was clean bowled by Keemo Paul.
Shakib Al Hasan made a breezy 26-ball off 30 runs while Soumya Sarkar (19) contributed in the middle before Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah took Bangladesh to the coast quite comfortably.
The diminutive batsman Mushfiqur composed an unbeaten 55 runs off 70 balls laced with five boundaries while Mahmudullah supported him with 14 to remain unbeaten till the end of the innings.
Roston Chase was the pick of West Indies bowler as he claimed two wickets giving away 47 runs.
Pacer Mashrafe Mortaza was named the player of the match for his brilliant bowling performance.
After winning the match, Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza in his immediate reaction said: “We know West Indies are dangerous in this format….but boys bowled really well. It’s not easy to score runs on this wicket. Liton played a nice knock, Shakib got some quick runs, that helped a lot. But I think Mushfiqur was brilliant, very professional. Still a long way to go for this team.”
Earlier, disciplined bowling display by Mashrafe and Mustafizur saw Bangladesh restricted West Indies at 195 for 9 in 50 overs after they opted to bat first.
Bangladesh got their first breakthrough as Shakib Al Hasan removed Windies opener Kieron Powell for 10 in the eighth over of the match while Bangladesh captain Mashare Bin Mortaza got two wickets in quick succession to reduce 78 for 3 in 24.3 overs.
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza removed Darrewn Bravo for 19 while another opener Shai Hope, who was seemed well with bat as he top scored 43 runs, fell to Mashrafe’s second victim.
After that, the Tigers bowlers, led by Mashrafe, continued to inroad on West Indies innings picking up wickets of Marlon Samuels (25), Shimron Hetmyer (6) and Rovman Powell (14) establishing their full control of the match.
However Keemo Paul and Roston Chase offered some resistance in the end as the both the Caribbean batsmen shared an important 51-run for the seventh wicket stand, the highest partnership in West Indies’s dilapidated innings, to take the team’s total to a respectable position.
Paul blasted 28-ball off 36 runs with the help of one boundary and two over boundaries while Roston supported him with a priceless 32-run off 38 ball that included one boundary and equal number of over boundary, before both the batsmen fell victim of Mustafizur Rahman.
Mashrafe Mortaza and Mustafizur Rahman were the pick of Bangladesh bowlers as they duo shared three West Indies’s wickets giving away 30 and 35 runs respectively.
Brief score:
West Indies – 195 for 9 in 50 overs, Shie Hope 43, Keemo Paul 36, Roston 32, Samuels 25, Bravo 19, , Mashrafe 3/30 and Mustafizur 3/35.
Bangladesh – 196 for 5 in 35.1 overs, Mushfiqur Rahim 55 n.o, Liton 41, Shakib 30, Mahmudullah 14, Roston 2/47.