Superb all-round performance helped Bangladesh register a 3-0 victory over touring West Indies in the Bangabandhu Cricket Series.
Tigers beat the Caribbeans by 120 runs in the final ODI of the series on Monday at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. It is the second time Bangladesh registered whitewash wins over West Indies in ODI.
Mushfiqur Rahim scored a quickfire 64 and grabbed four catches behind the wicket to win the man of the match award. Shakib Al Hasan got the man of the series award for his outstanding performance in the comeback series after a one-year ban imposed by cricket’s governing body. He scored 113 runs and grabbed six wickets in the series.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina extended her heartiest felicitation to Bangladesh Cricket Team for their series win against West Indies.
She hoped that the team will continue their winning trend through tough practice.
With three wins, Bangladesh secured 30 points in the World Cup Super League. Bangladesh are now at number two in the points table right after Australia.
Bangladesh lost the toss and were sent to bat first. They posted 297 for six, the highest at the port city venue, riding on the fifties by four mainstays. In reply, West Indies tumbled for 177 in 44.2 overs.
Rovman Powell scored 47, the highest for the tourists, while Nkrumah Bonner and Raymon Reifer scored 31 and 27 respectively.
For Bangladesh, Mohammad Saifuddin bagged three wickets conceding 51 runs in nine overs while Mustafizur Rahman and Mehidy Hasan Miraz scalped two each. Taskin Ahmed, who returned to ODI after a long gap, took one wicket.
Earlier, West Indies removed Liton Das in the first over, but Tamim Iqbal, Shakib, Mahmudullah Riyad and Mushfiqur each hit a fifty to propel the Tigers to a big total.
Along the way, Tigers surpassed their previous total of 288 runs at this venue.
Mushfqiur hit 64 off 55 while Mahmudullah was unbeaten at 64 off 43 balls with three sixes and as many fours. Tamim posted 64 off 80 balls with three fours and one six while Shakib added 51 off 81 with three fours.
This is the second time Tamim, Shakib, Mushfiqur and Mahmudulla hit a fifty each in a single ODI innings. Overall, it’s only the third time when four or more Bangladeshi batsmen scored 50 or more in a single ODI innings.
The two previous occasions were in 2014 and 2015.
Tamim and Shakib were to slow to score on Chattogram pitch where scoring runs is easier than Dhaka.
Najmul Hossain Shanto, who is batting at number three in this series, disappointed once again. He got a chance to take the field early in this game but failed to capitalise the chance as he fell prey to Kyle Mayers after scoring 20 off 30 balls. In the first two games, he went out for 1 and 11.
For West Indies, Alzarri Joseph was the best bowler taking two wickets conceding 48 runs in 10 over while Raymon Reifer bagged two conceding 61 in 10 overs. Keon Harding, who got his ODI cap in this game, gave away 88 runs and made an unexpected record— giving most runs in ODI debut for West Indies.
Now, both teams will take on each other in a two-match Test series starting February 3 in Chattogram. Before that, West Indies will play a three-day practice game in the port city starting from January 29 at MA Aziz Stadium. The second Test of the series will be played in Dhaka from February 11.
