CWC 2019: WI Vs BAN Review – Shakib leads Bangladesh to historic win
Bangladesh became the first team in the 2019 World Cup to chase down a total in excess of 250 runs and they did it in a spectacular manner. World’s number one all-rounder, Shakib Al Hasan, scored an unbeaten 124 and thwarted every effort of the West Indian bowlers. Liton Das provided great company and played a sterling knock of 94 not out in just 69 balls. The Asian team cantered to the victory with seven wickets and 51 balls in hand. Shakib was named man of the match for his 124 and the figures of 2/54.
Chasing 322, Bangladesh started confidently with Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar at the top. Andre Russell provided the first breakthrough by dismissing Sarkar while Cottrell’s athletic run out accounted for Iqbal who was well-set on 48 off 53 balls. After losing Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das joined Shakib at the crease. The duo started dealing in boundaries and kept West Indies bowling under pressure.
Shakib and Liton milked runs while the Caribbean bowlers kept searching for a wicket. Shakib brought up his ninth ODI ton and second of this World Cup in just 83 balls. At the other end, Liton completed his half-century. The little batsman changed gears after scoring fifty and smashed Shannon Gabriel for three sixes in an over. The unbeaten partnership of 189 runs for the fourth wicket helped Bangladesh get home with 8.3 overs remaining. Earlier in the day, the Bangla tigers began well with the ball also.
West Indies builds a solid foundation
Opting to bowl first, Bangladesh showed intent with the new ball and kept the batsmen under leash. Chris Gayle could not get a run in his first 12 balls and was caught behind on the 13th. At one stage, West Indies was floundering at 8/1 after five overs. Evin Lewis and Shai Hope staged a recovery and limited further damage. They gathered runs at a steady pace as they moved past their individual fifties. Shakib struck gold in the 25th over and sent back Lewis after a well-made 70 from 67 balls. The same bowler dismissed Nicholas Pooran in the 33rd over to leave West Indies at 159/3.
Acceleration and deceleration
Pooran’s dismissal brought Shimron Hetmyer at the crease. The 22-year old made his intentions clear by striking two boundaries in his first five balls. Hope also changed gears and launched a brief assault on Mustafizur. At the other end, Hetmyer was going great guns. He raced to his fifty in just 25 balls (joint-fastest in CWC 19) which included four fours and three sixes. Mustafizur returned to dismiss him. In the same over, he also got rid of the dangerous Andre Russell for a duck. The double-wicket over swung the balance back in Bangladesh’s favour.
However, Jason Holder came out swinging and wrestled the momentum once again. In just 15 balls, the West Indian captain smashed 33 runs with four fours and two sixes. Saifuddin stopped this charge and brought Bangladesh back in the game. Hope did hold one end with his innings of 96 but failed to accelerate in the end overs. In the last 36 balls, West Indies scored only 38 runs and lost two more wickets in the process. Mustafiur and Saifuddin finished with three wickets each. West Indies’ final score of 321/8 proved far too less against Bangladesh’s courage.
