Tigers’ poor batting allow WI to win in 1st T20

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SYLHET, Dec 17, 2018 (BSS) – Poor batting display by Bangladesh batsmen
allowed visiting West Indies to record an overwhelming eight-wicket victory
in the first T20I of the three-match series held on Monday at Sylhet
International Cricket Stadium.

It was the first victory for West Indies of their tour in Bangladesh
following losses of their two-match Test and three-match ODI series.

Chasing a winning target 130-run, West Indies hardly had to sweat as they
comfortable reached home in 10.5 overs with eight wickets in hand.

Thanks to Shai Hope for his blistering half century that helped West Indies
to chase down the target easily after the Caribbean pacer Sheldon Cottrell
paved the way to restrict Bangladesh at 129.

The wicket keeper batsman Shai Hope first shared a blistering 51-run
opening stand with Evin Lewis (18) and again paired 47-run second wicket
stand with Nicholas Pooran to take his side closer to the victory. He smashed
23-ball off 55-run hitting three boundaries and six over boundaries before
his destructive knock was stopped by Mahmudullah.

Keemo Paul (28 n.o) and Nicholas Pooran (23 n.o) completed the remaining
formalities to remain unbeaten with 28 and 23 runs respectively.

Mohammad Saifuddin and Mahmudullah shared one West Indies’ wicket
conceding 13 each.

Sheldon Cottrell of West Indies was named the player of the match for his
devastating bowling spells.

Earlier, a responsible half century came from the bat of skipper Shakib Al
Hasan helped Bangladesh to score a decent total of 129 for all in 19 overs
against visiting West Indies, after they opted to bat first.

Bangladesh suffered early batting jolt as they lost their first three top
order batsmen – Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar – inside 3.3 overs
with the scoreboard stuck at 31 for 3.

Bangladesh two most experienced batsmen Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah
also lasted a little as they went to the pavilion leaving Bangladesh in deep
trouble.

Shakib Al Hasan, who completed his eight T20I fifty making 43-ball off 61-
run with the help of eight boundaries and two over boundaries, kept his nerve
cool as he paring with Ariful Haque contributed an important 30-run sixth
wicket stand, the highest partnership of Bangladesh’s dilapidated innings, to
stop the rot before Fabian Allen broke the partnership removing Ariful for
17.

The Bangladesh’s batsmen failed to build any effective partnership in the
face of tight bowling display by the West Indies bowlers and eventually all
out for 129.

Left arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell was the pick of West Indies bowler as he
grabbed four Bangladesh’s wickets conceding 28 runs.

The second and third matches of the series will be held on December 20 and
22 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium at Mirpur.

Brief score:

Bangladesh – 129 for all in 19 overs, Shakib 61, Ariful 17, Mahmudullah
12, Sheldon Cottrell 4/28.

West Indies – 130 for 2 in 10.5 overs, Shai Hope 55, Paul 28 n.o, Pooran
23 n.o, Saifuddin 1/13 and Mahmudullah 1/13.