Bangladesh recorded their biggest win in ODIs in terms of runs,
thrashing a listless West Indies by 160 runs to take a 2-0 lead and are
in prime position to claim the five-match series. The spinners delivered
for the second game in succession, but Bangladesh owed their early
dominance in this match largely to Anamul Haque, who became the third
teenager from the country to score a ODI century, and Mushfiqur Rahim
for propelling them to 292. The cushion of runs was more than enough for
the spinners to run through the line-up.
West Indies opted to bowl first, primarily to nip out as many wickets as
possible using the early morning moisture and then exploit the easier
batting conditions in the afternoon. As it transpired, batting appeared
twice as tough with the psychological setback of chasing 293 against a
four-pronged spin attack that had rendered the match a no-contest even
before the halfway stage of the chase. Bangladesh needed just over 31
overs to wrap things up and bettered their previous highest victory
margin of 146 runs against Scotland in 2006. Ravi Rampaul's 5 for 49 was a forgotten statistical highlight.
West Indies had some semblance of control in only two, albeit brief,
phases. The first was when they took two early wickets when the seamers
had some assistance and the second when Bangladesh inexplicably took
their foot off the pedal during the batting Powerplay. In between,
Bangladesh ruthlessly choked the opposition.
The moisture on the pitch had disappeared after the first half hour,
handing the advantage to the batsmen, which Mushfiqur and Anamul
relished during their 174-run stand. Sunil Narine's fortunes on tour
took a turn for the worse as the pair toyed with his bowling, which
lacked the turn and bite he is normally associated with. Mushfiqur was
liberal with the sweep, and also employed the late cut. Anamul
improvised well against Narine, bringing up his maiden fifty with a late
cut. With little seam movement on offer, Anamul was able to smash it
through the line despite minimal footwork. He was strong on the pull as
well, fetching boundaries off Dwayne Smith and Narine.
Bangladesh were progressing at a healthy 5.31 runs per over but
ironically lost momentum when the field restrictions were on after the
35th over for the mandatory Powerplay. The seamers wisely dished out
short deliveries, exploiting the new one-day rule that allows two
bouncers an over. Bangladesh scratched around for 20 runs and lost two
wickets in that passage, including that of Mushfiqur, who played a tired
pull to midwicket for 79.
Anamul slowed down as he approached his century, consuming 23 balls in
the 90s, but his wait ended when he pulled Rampaul to deep square leg
and with the pressure off his shoulders, biffed Andre Russell for two
sixes and a four off consecutive balls. Both Anamul and Mominul Haque
fell to Rampaul - who picked up his second five-wicket haul - going for
big hits. Bangladesh ransacked 68 off the last five overs to post their
biggest total against West Indies.
While Chris Gayle's dip in form didn't affect West Indies' fortunes in
the Tests, his no-show in the one-dayers so far is having a telling
impact. A strong start was needed, and it was important West Indies
knocked off as many as possible with the new ball before the spinners
came on in tandem. By the time that happened, West Indies had lost three
of their top four, including Gayle and Marlon Samuels.
Gayle's departure - caught behind giving Mashrafe Mortaza the charge -
and tight bowling from the spinners choked the run-rate. Samuels tried
to cut Sohag Gazi but got a thick edge to Mushfiqur, who took a sharp
catch. Abdur Razzak trapped Dwayne Smith lbw, in a spell which read
5-0-19-3. Darren Bravo too edged the left-arm spinner Razzak and Devon
Thomas missed a straight one. The wheels were falling off for West
Indies when Sammy went for the lofted drive over extra cover off
Mahmudullah but found the fielder. At the end of 25 overs, West Indies
had lost seven, with their hopes pinned to Kieron Pollard. The end came
soon when Pollard lost his off stump to Naeem Islam and Tamim Iqbal
plucked a chipped drive from Narine to seal the game.
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