CHATTOGRAM, Jan 25, 2021 (BSS)—All of the senior batsmen came all guns blazing in the third and final ODI as Bangladesh racked up a hefty 297-7 in their quest to inflict a whitewash on West Indies at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here today.
Bangladesh comprehensively won the first two matches by six wickets and seven wickets respectively.
Skipper Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad hit half-centuries to guide the side in the final match after West Indies captain Jason Mohammed decided to send the host in batting.
Tamim laid the platform while Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah paced the innings towards the end—the trio struck an identical 64 runs.
Shakib in between made a patient 51, his first half-century after coming back to cricket following a two-year ban, one year of that suspended, imposed by ICC due to his failure to report corrupt approaches.
Bangladesh lost Liton Das for naught in the first over before Nazmul Hossain Shanto was trapped leg-before by Kyle Mayers for 20, leaving the side at 38-2 in the ninth over.
To make the matter worse, the Caribbean fast bowlers—specially Alzarri Joseph and Raymon Reifer were excellent and varied their pace to curb the natural aggression of the Bangladeshi batsmen.
But the senior two batsmen—Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan–chose to strike balance between caution and aggression and thereby denied them making further inroads.
They steadied the ship with a 93-run partnership for the third wicket stand as well as kept Bangladesh in a position of dominance, frustrating the visiting bowlers.
Alzarri Joseph, who was bowling magnificently finally got the reward as he broke the partnership, dismissing Tamim who cracked three fours and one six in 64 off 80.
Shakib was then outfoxed by pacer Raymon Reifer slower just after reaching his half-century. He hit three fours in his 81 ball-51.
Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim utilized the platform set by Shakib and Tamim well, by adding 72 off 58 for the fifth wicket. Their partnership not only kept the tourists at bay but also took the side closer to 300.
Mahmudullah’s 64 came off 43, studded with three fours and as many sixes while Mushfiqur Rahim played 55 balls for his 64, that included four fours and two sixes.
Joseph and Reifer took two wickets each, giving away 48 and 64 runs respectively.
Brief score:
Bangladesh 297-6 in 50 overs (Tamim Iqbal 64, Mushfiqur Rahim 64, Mahmudullah Riyad 64, Shakib Al Hasan 51, Nazmul Shanto 20; Alzarri Joseph 2-48, Reifer 2-64, Kyle Mayers 1-34)