West Indies 230 for 3 (King 82, Lewis 49, Carty 45) won Bangladesh 227 (Mahmudullah 62, Tanzid 46, Seales 4-22) for seven wickets
The West Indies recorded a seven-wicket win against Bangladesh in St Kitts to claim the three-match ODI series. It was West Indies’ first victory in an ODI series against Bangladesh in ten years. They had also won the last four ODI series between the two sides. The West Indies had on Sunday broken Bangladesh’s 11-match winning streak against them in the first ODI.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh have won just one of their last six ODI series, while the West Indies have reversed their fortunes in the format. They have now scored back-to-back ODI series wins after beating England last month. They had lost the ODI series against Australia and Sri Lanka earlier in the year.
Before Seales took his wickets, Bangladesh got off to a fast start as Tanzid hit debutant Marquino Mindley for two fours and as many sixes in the first three overs. Seales broke through early, trapping Soumya Sarkar at mid-wicket for two. Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz followed Soumya in the first powerplay, and both fell to Seales. Litton lumbered forward for four off 18 balls before his shot attempt was too early as he grabbed the end of the bat and flicked it towards point.
Seales then caught Mehidy in two minds, as he tried to leave the ball, but it took the inside edge and reached the stumps. Tanzid had kept Bangladesh at the other end but could not convert another start into a big one. After hitting Justin Greaves for two fours in the 11th over, he fell in the same over, caught at point. It was similar to how Tanzid fell in the first ODI.
Afif then started well, hitting Romario Shepherd for four boundaries, lifting him twice over his head and once over cover. However, attempting a similar knock against Motie, Afif fell to a long-on catch for 24.
Jaker Ali and Rishad Hossain Motie followed quickly and cheaply. Motie trapped Jaker lbw for three, before Rishad became Mindley’s first ODI wicket and fell for a duck.
West Indies were making it look like child’s play as they reduced Bangladesh to 115 for seven at this stage. Mahmudullah, who had hit a six till then, had to rely on Tanzim, who previously had a first-class fifty to his name. Tanzim looked determined as he hit two fours before bowling Motie for his first six at long on. Mahmudullah had hit two sixes so far. The pair then hit Greaves for six and four in consecutive overs, before repeating the same dose a few overs later, with the same bowler.
Roston Chase ended the partnership in the 44th minute when he caught Tanzim bowling. It was a great effort from the young cricketer, hitting six boundaries in his 62-ball stay.
Mahmudullah followed Tanzim back to the pavilion in the next step, bizarrely hitting Seales’ wide throw into Deep Point Gorge. His 62 came from 92 balls, including two fours and four sixes. It is only the second time in his career that Mahmudullah scored three fifties in a row in ODIs.
As the home team responded to Bangladesh’s 227, King got off to a good start with five boundaries in the first seven overs, hitting the ball well on both sides of the pitch. He moved on to 26, while Lewis languished with six off 23 balls. Finally, in the ninth over, Lewis hit Tanzim for three boundaries, including a flat six at long leg.
Lewis hit Mehidy with a big hit down the ground in the 14th over before dropping the next ball, as Soumya failed to capitalize on a difficult chance. Lewis was 29 years old at the time. After King reached his half-century off 52 balls in the 16th over, Lewis hit Mehidy for his third six soon after. His fourth was a sort of revenge against Rana, who had hit him in the unmentionables during the 20th over.
The couple completed their inaugural second century partnership this year. King has been involved in the opening stands for the last five West Indies centuries. This ended when Lewis, still recovering from Rana’s hit, gave Rishad a catch-and-bow after making 49 off 62 balls.
The wicket did not seem to lift Bangladesh, who quickly conceded five runs in the knocks. Litton also conceded four breaks. Keacy Carty capitalized on his errors, hitting five boundaries while King hit three sixes in a short period. He threw Rishad twice, as well as lifting Tanzim off the ground and onto the roof of the pavilion building.
King fell to Rana Yorker in the 29th over. The long shadow of one of the light towers on the field could be one of the reasons why King lost that ball, but he left quietly after adding 66 runs for the second wicket with Carty. King hit eight fours and three sixes in his 76-ball stay. Carty fell soon after King, cutting a catch to Rana off Afif Hossain, after making 45 off 47 balls. Rutherford and Hope bowled Rishad for four and six respectively, in their eighth over.
Rutherford performed the final rites of the series when he disdainfully spun Shoriful Islam over square leg for two sixes in the 37th over to complete the win.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo correspondent in Bangladesh. @isam84
