Top order, death bowlers help Bangladesh ease past West Indies

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West Indies had been cruising batting first, having progressed to 197/2 after 40 overs on the back of Shai Hope’s second century in succession, and fifth since the start of October 2018 – in that time, only Virat Kohli has more ODI tons.

With Sunil Ambris, playing instead of the injured John Campbell, having helped lay the platform, and Roston Chase unbeaten on 50, they looked set to push on past 300, but ended up falling short as Bangladesh rallied.

Tigers captain Mashrafe Mortaza was the star, dismissing both set batsmen on his way to figures of 3/49, while Mohammad Saifuddin, who finished with 2/47, was marginally less incisive and marginally more economical.

No one else could go past 20 for the Windies, and with their success in the first game against Ireland having been founded on their opening pair, they will be desperate for their lower order to come good before long.

Chasing 262, Soumya Sarkar and Tamim Iqbal marched out the blocks, taking Bangladesh past three figures in quick time. Sarkar was the aggressor but fell in sight of his hundred to a juggling catch on the rope by Darren Bravo off the bowling of Roston Chase.

Tamim was more sedate, in the end facing 48 more balls than Sarkar for just seven more runs, but also had a chance of a century before flicking Shannon Gabriel to Windies captain Jason Holder at short midwicket.

Still, the damage had been done, and a run-a-ball 61* from Shakib Al Hasan and a slightly quicker 32* from Mushfiqur Rahim was enough to see the Asian side home with eight wickets and five overs to spare.

Bangladesh next face Ireland on Wednesday, 9 May, while the West Indies next encounter is also against Ireland on Saturday, 11 May,