Bangladesh Vs West Indies T20 Series
Third Match Played at Lauderhill Florida USA
Bangladesh 184/5( Liton 61 , Mahmudullah 32*, Shakib 24 , Tamim 21 , Ariful 18* , K Paul 2/26 , C Brathwaite 2/32 ) beat West Indies 135/7 in 17.1 Overs ( A Russell 47 , R Powell 23 , D Ramdin 21 , Mustafiz 3/35 ) by 19 runs in D/L method
Bangladesh Won the Series 2-1
Man of the Match: Liton K Das
Man of the Series; Shakib Al Hasan
Resurging Bangladesh cricket rediscovering their fighting intents, demonstrating their can-do attitude won T20 Series in the current T20 World Champion West Indies. After winning the second match yesterday, they repeated the performance today winning the rain curtailed deciding third match at Florida, USA by 19 runs on D/L method. This was a fascinating turning around after losing the first match of the series at St Kitts also on a D/L Method. West Indies is a very strong T20 unit having some wonderful power hitters and good T20 bowlers. Bangladesh batting first posted an impressive 184/5 in allotted overs. Then Bangladesh bowlers once again bowled well as a team. When rain stopped play at 17.1 overs, West Indies could reach 135/7 still 19 runs less than the target on D/L method.
Bangladesh started the tour of West Indies disastrously getting comprehensively white washed in two tests. Just the imagine that this very team in the first innings of the first test was crashed to 43 all out in only 18.3 overs. In none of the four innings of two tests, Bangladesh could bat even 50 overs. That team bounced back in their favorite ODI format, when the much required spark was given by Mashrafee. Bangladesh should have won the series 3-0. But a sudden loss of focus in the second ODI caused them loss the match only just. Bangladesh won ODI series 2-1. Again after losing the first of the T20 series, they stormed back and won the second and the third and won the series. The ODI and T20 series back to back would give the team great impetus in the very hectic assignment in different formats coming up soon.
Florida has already become a little Bangladesh with thousands adoring fan assembling to cheer their team from all over the USA .Tigers morale was heavily boosted from the full throat cheers of the adoring fans.
Winning the toss Bangladesh opted to bat. Changed Bangladesh was in killing mood right from the start. From the moment Liton sent the first full ball to square leg boundary, the intention was very clear. Him and Tamim blasted West Indian bowlers all over the park. Badree, Nurse and Russel were blasted along the carpet and across & over in rapid frequency. Liton looked prolific. Bangladesh raced to their fasted T20 half century in only 3.4 overs. Before Tamim got out the first wicket partnership produced 62 in only 4.4 overs. West Indies had their back to the wall. Liton went on scoring 61 in only 32 deliveries. His power packed innings included 6 fours and three mighty sixes .However, West Indies could strike back removing Mushfique and Soumya in quick succession. Soumya could hardly get going.
His poor foot work and questionable technique of playing away from the body again bringing his down fall. Mushfique got out trying to steer the ball through the slips. The innings looked stuttering at 102/4 when Shakib and joined by Mahmudullah in the 11th over. Two senior pros kept the momentum going adding 44 in quick time .Shakib got out. But by that time courtesy LitonTamim blitz early on Bangladesh was well placed at 149/5. Rain interrupted for a while. When play started, Mahmudullah and Ariful added another 38 runs in the unbroken 6th wicket partnership posting a very competitive 184/5. It is Ok Bangladesh won eventually but from a very solid foundation Bangladesh should have scored 200 plus at least. On the other day against even rampaging West Indies, this score may prove inadequate. Mahmudullah remained unbeaten on 32 and Ariful on 18. Young Ariful is slowly and steadily getting to his gear. West Indian bowlers did well to restrict Bangladesh to 184 /5 after getting almost swept away in the first power play. But some how or other, West Indies body language appeared a little bit sluggish. Bowling looked ragged when Liton and Tamim had planned all guns blazing attack on them.
West Indies innings never got going .Mustafiz ,Soumya and Shakib struck blows in the fourth fifth and sixth overs removing Flethcher , Walton and Samuels . West Indies was reduced to 32/3 atthe end of the first power play. Shakib himself has bowled to his prime form throughout the T20 series and all his bowlers delivered. Mustafiz was special wicket taking bowler in the series. West Indies was already in the back foot. Ramdin and Powell resurrected the innings to some extent. But they fell behind increasingly in the asking rate. Rubel and Mustafiz in the middle overs struck two vital blows once again removing Ramdin and Power . At 96/5 in the 14th, it became a tall task already for West Indies. But free stroking Russell was still there. His fluent stroke play especially boundary hitting created tensions in the tiger camp again. Desperate Shakib brought back his ace striker Mustafiz and he delivered removing dangerous looking Russel caught in the deep. West Indies was 135/7 when Russell got out. In came the rain again and the match was called off. In D/L method West Indies was 19 runs behind. Bangladesh deservedly won the match and the series 2-1.
After getting white washed in T20 series against Afghanistan and getting brushed and battered in Test series winning ODI and T20 series back to back on a tour against major opposition West Indies must give heavy boost to team tigers. The new head coach and coaching staff now have the task to cut out.
Throughout the series the senior players Tamim, Shakib, Mushfique and Mahmudullah contributed massively. Liton delivered one of the most entreating innings in the final match. Bangladesh still needs to sort out number three slot. By the look of it neither Shakib nor Mushfique suits there .Soumya’s awful form got extended. Shabbir was not there .Mahmudullah is great at late middle order .Ariful is getting tuned. Bangladesh must know how to pace the innings from first over till the last.
Bowling department seems to be blooming. Mustafiz is tuning back to his best .Rubel proved to be his ideal foil .Rony will mature with experience. Our pacers must continue taking wickets for winning matches in all formats. Especially in T20 and ODI, this will matter .Shakib after a while consistently produced his world class all round performance. Unfortunately, NazmulOpu got injured. He bowled well. So did Mehedy Miraj. Hope Bangladesh would look for at least two more top order batsmen of quality and a wrist spinner. All great teams have quality leg spinners now. Whether it is Test, ODI and T20 leg spinners can turn any match.
Shakib was rightly adjudged Man of the series for his brilliant all round performance.
We really liked the body language and commitments of the team in ODI and T20s after their shoulders were dropping in the test series . Hope this momentum would continue. Asian Cup will have four very strong oppositions like India , Pakistan , Sri Lnnka and Afghanistan . Hopefully, Bangladesh eye for the top honour which has so far eluded them.
Bangladesh did not lack skill, quality. This team has four of the most experienced quality international cricketers. The team was some how not playing to their potential. Change of attitude made them rediscover their confidence and self believe. They have now got the winning momentum. Hope they make winning a habit.
BDST: 1632 HRS, AUG 6, 2018
AH
