Bangladesh Vs West Indies First ODI Played at Providence, Guyana
Brief Score Card
Bangladesh 279/4 (Tamim Iqbal 130*, Shakib al Hasan 97, Mushfiqur Rahim 30) Beat West Indies 231/9 (S Hetmeyer 52, CH Gayle 40, D Bishoo 29* , A Josef 29*, Mashrafe 4/37, Mustafiz 2/35) by 48 runs.
From deep despair of comprehensive white wash first by Rookies Afghanistan in T20 series in India and then disastrous test series white wash in West Indies team tigers regained their winning mode. Captain courageous Mashrafe inspired Bangladesh made winning start of the three matches ODI series against West Indies winning the first ODI by 48 runs. Batting first Terrific Tamim (130*) and Sparkling Shakib (97*) knitted a record second wicket partnership of 207.
Bangladesh finished at 279/4 aided by a 11 ball 30 runs cameos of Majestic Mushfique. The West Indies response was stifled my captain cool Mashrafe (4/37). Leading from the front he could manage restricting West Indies to 231 /9 in allotted overs. Bangladesh regained its winning mode. Mashrafe could launch a winning start to ICC World Cup Preparation. The second match of the series a day night affair would be played at the same venue on 26 August and the third on 28th.
With 1-0 lead team tigers are now favoured winning another ODI series on foreign soil. Off course there is no room for complacency, yet there are many loose knots to tighten. But after the recent dismal performance these came as a tonic for the team and its admirers.
If Bangladesh could finish well like they did in their innings scoring 43 runs in the last two overs they would win by much bigger margin. West Indian ten and jack added unbeaten 58 in the last wicket partnership a record for West Indies in ODI against any team. Mustafiz and Rubel just failed to dislodge them.
Bangladesh digested a disgraceful 3-0 white wash at the hands of rookie Afghanistan. Then caught on unaccustomed pacey and bouncy track Bangladesh was battered, bruised, harassed and humiliated in two matches test series against West Indies. In none of the four innings of the two tests they could even bat for 50 overs.
But deep in the heart the admirers of Bangladesh cricket did believe one little spark could bring Bangladesh back to winning mode. And who else other than Mashrafe Bin Mortaza could inspire that. He was not sure to join the squad as he was nursing his indisposed wife. Only just he made it and joined the team few days before the series started. He could not even appear in lone practise match. But we are sure his very presence ignited fire in the tigers. Down and out Bangladeshi cricketers regained their confidence, regained self belief.
Bangladesh winning the toss decided to bat. But Anamul got out early poking a moving ball of Holder tentatively .It was just 1 run on the board. From there on two seasoned professionals Tamim and Shakib shouldered the team .They had to be cautious early on against some high quality pace bowling of Holder,Josef and Russel on sticky wicket. West Indies dropped few catches, missed few run out opportunities .But some slices of luck sometimes is required for a struggle to recovery.
Tamim and Shakib matching stroke for stroke developed a match winning milestone setting 207 runs partnership. Shakib missed the milestone for merely three runs getting out at 97 scored in uncharacteristic 121 deliveries. Tamim went on scoring his 10th ODI hundred and the first against West Indies. He remained not out at 130 scored of 160 deliveries. Many thought they were too conservative in batting. The wicket was a bit sticky early on. But many thought once they were well set they could have stepped up the gear.
Sabbir joined Tamim and declared out stumped which if reviewed could be reversed. However, it was a blessing in disguise as little Mushfique produced an 11 balls 30 runs cameos racing
Bangladesh total to 279/4 which ultimately made the difference. Bangladesh in the last two overs added 43 precious runs. Can you imagine this very team only weeks earlier could not bat even 50 overs and had score of 43 all out in 18.3 overs?
West Indies bowled and fielded very poorly. At least three clear catches were dropped. When players like Tamim and Shakib are given opportunities they punish you.
The momentum was really with Bangladesh as they started defending. The captain courageous started leading with example from the front. Exploiting the sticky nature of the wicket he controlled his pace on immaculate line and length. He immediately got success removing Lewis. He and Miraj did not let superman Gayle tee off. Miraj in fact should have got Gayle LBW when struck in front but Mushfique for some reason did not influence a review.
Rubel however, got Hope LBW which if reviewed would have been not out. West Indies was 41/2. Gayle started coming out of his shell and Hetmeyer was looking good. Bangladesh got a lucky break when a terrible mix up had Gayle run out .He scored 40. Miraj fooled Jason Mohammad in flight and had him caught behind. Holder and Hetmeyer were guiding the innings till Mustafiz coming into the attack struck two deadly blows .He first removed Hetmeyer going great at 52 and on the very next ball Powell caught behind. West Indies reduced to 141/6. Holder and Russel were their last hope.
But great Mashrafe returning in the second spell cleverly executed his slow cutters getting rid of both. Mash also got the wicket of Nurse. West Indies were 9/172 in the 41st over. Mashrafe got 4/37. Everyone thought the match will see early close. But it was never to be. Two tailenders Bishoo and Josef batted doggedly producing and unbroken 59 runs last wicket partnership. Rubel and Mustafiz just could not dislodge them. West Indies was 231 /9 in 50 overs. Bangladesh went 1-0 ahead in the three matches ODI series.
The recent slump of Bangladesh performance were being bisected and dissected in many ways. Summing those all up Bangladesh is definitely not that bad a team to perform that badly. Something somewhere was going very wrong. Someone was required to ignite the flame and the fire is on. Now the momentum is with team tigers. Few even the experts were blaming Tamim and Shakib for not stepping up the tempo. But possibly they did not realize that batting on a sticky wicket was not easy at all.
Tamim and Shakib had to curb their natural instinct. Imagine what their 207 runs record partnership and 30 runs 11 balls cameo of Mushfiqur did? Mashrafe could plot his plan. How ably he himself led by example. The wicket was gripping. He adjusted his pace, line and length so well that none even CH Gayle could take any liberty. He removed flamboyant Lewis early.
Rubel got rid of Hope. Mashrafe also accounted for two more important wickets of Holder and Russel with cleverly concealed slower cutters. His 4/37 made a huge difference. His spinners Miraj, Mosaddek and Shakib also bowled well. Mustafiz back in action after a long time was feeling his way back a little. He and Rubel should use change of pace and Yorkers in death overs more effectively.
All the fabulous five Mashrafe, Shakib, Tamim, Mushfique made major contributions. Even Mahmuduallh fielded brilliantly and getting just one ball to bat scored a boundary. Hope Anamul will get into his gear soon.
The series win will mean huge for Bangladesh. But for that Bangladesh must not loose focus. It has to be team performance not only fabulous five only. Hope new coaching staff can map the resources well from the series identifying areas to improve.
BDST: 1121 HRS, JUL 23, 2018
SI/SMS
