West Indies bowlers produced a clinical performance to defend a modest total, defeating Bangladesh by 16 runs in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram on Monday.
Jayden Seales (3-32), Jason Holder (3-31), and Akeal Hosein (2-22) ripped through the Bangladesh line-up, bundling out the hosts for 149 in 19.4 overs after the visitors posted 165/3.
Hope And Powell Lift Windies To Defendable Total
Captain Shai Hope (46* off 28) and Rovman Powell (44* off 28) rescued West Indies with an unbroken 83-run stand for the fourth wicket after early setbacks. Openers Alick Athanaze (34) and Brandon King (33) had earlier set the platform with a 59-run stand before Taskin Ahmed (2-36) and Rishad Hossain (1-40) pegged them back.
We assessed the conditions a little bit better today. Obviously, we would have wanted a higher score, but having wickets in hand gave us the impetus at the back end. Rovman played a brilliant innings in his 100th T20I; it’s great to see him make that impact.
Nasum Ahmed’s economical spell of 0-15 from four overs kept the Windies quiet early, but Powell’s towering sixes in the final overs ensured a total Bangladesh would find challenging.
Bangladesh Implode After Poor Powerplay
Chasing 166, Bangladesh’s innings fell apart early. By the sixth over, the hosts were 42 for 4, with Seales, Holder and Hosein sharing the spoils. Tanzid Hasan (15) fell to a superb running catch by Romario Shepherd, while Litton Das (5), Saif Hassan (8) and Shamim Hossain (1) departed cheaply.
On the batting side, we lost too many wickets in the Powerplay. I was very upset with Shamim’s batting — you can’t come and just enjoy it all the time. You have to take responsibility.
Late Resistance Not Enough
Tanzim Hasan Sakib (33 off 27) and Nasum Ahmed (20) added 40 runs for the eighth wicket to delay the inevitable. But Holder’s sharp catch removed Tanzim, and Seales finished things off in the final over to seal the win.
It’s nice when everything falls into place. Everyone executed the plans perfectly. Credit goes to the guys; they raised their hands in all departments.
Das admitted Bangladesh’s death bowling and Powerplay batting let them down.
If we had taken early wickets, they would have been under pressure. We have to execute our death overs better, whoever bowls them.
Brief Scores West Indies 165/3 in 20 overs (Shai Hope 46*, Rovman Powell 44*, Alick Athanaze 34, Brandon King 33; Taskin Ahmed 2-36) Bangladesh 149 all out in 19.4 overs (Tanzim Hasan Sakib 33, Towhid Hridoy 28; Jayden Seales 3-32, Jason Holder 3-31, Akeal Hosein 2-22) Result: West Indies won by 16 runs.
