A fine all-round performance by Shakib-al-Hasan and back-to-back half centuries by Mohammad Ashraful overshadowed Travis Dowlin’s century and sealed Bangladesh’s series win over West Indies at Dominica. Bangladesh won by three wickets and with only one over to spare.
Batting first after winning the toss, West Indies piled on 274/6 in the fifty overs, thanks to master-like ton by Dowlin. He had begun slow, but as the innings progressed, he accelerated really well and in the end, was instrumental in getting 50 runs in the batting Powerplay at the end of the West Indian innings.
Earlier, Dale Richards and Andre Fletcher started off well for West Indies and added 33 for the first wicket in only five overs before Shakib bowled himself within the first ten overs and got the wicket of Fletcher. Richards’ sedate innings was soon ended when he ran himself out at the non-striker’s end for 20. Devon Smith then got together with Dowlin and the pair added a 66 runs for the third wicket, with Smith getting a 44. The spinners did reduce the West Indian scoring rate in the middle overs, but then, Dowlin managed to get stuck in.
In the company of Dave Bernard, Rawl Lewis and Darren Sammy, Dowlin added an invaluable 98 runs in the last ten overs, and got the home team to 274/6 in the fifty overs.
Bangladesh began well, with their openers Tamim Iqbal and Junaid Siddique adding 46 runs for the first wicket, but then both departed soon, to leave the visitors at 64/2. Mohammad Ashraful had hit a half century in the last game, and he continued his good form to smash another fifty, as his partnership, first with Raqibul Hasan and then with the captain took Bangladesh closer to a win.
With only 85 needed off 83 balls, Ashraful then committed hara-kiri and was caught at long-off, off the bowling of Rawl Lewis. Hasan took control of the innings and even smashed 18 runs off Kemar Roach in the very first over of the batting Powerplay, but then continued with some rash strokes to hand back the advantage to the West Indies.
Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim left in quick succession to debutant Devon Thomas, and 15 runs were needed in the last three overs with three wickets standing. Abdur Razzaq scrambled a couple of singles and then swiped a boundary away to win it for the tourists.
Shakib was named the man-of-the-match for his all-round performance.
This win gives them an unassailable lead in the series, and now, with only one to play, they will be looking at going for another clean sweep. For the West Indies, it remains to be seen whether the cricket board makes any change to the squad or continues playing the same, second string players.