WI vs BAN 2024/25, West Indies vs Bangladesh 1st T20I, Kingstown Match Report, 15 Dec 2024

On By Littum

Bangladesh 147 for 6 (Soumya 43, Hosein 2-13, McCoy 2-30) batted West Indies 140 (Powell 60, Mahedi 4-13) by seven runs

Bangladesh thwarted Rovman Powell’s stunning effort to guide the West Indies to an unlikely victory after Hasan Mahmud defended for nine runs in a heroic last over to secure a seven-run victory in the first T20I at the Arnos Vale Ground. The capacity audience was presented with an exciting competition in the West Indies’ first international match in St. Vincent for 10 years. While defending 147, Mahedi Hasan’s four-wicket haul reduced West Indies to 38 for 5 before Powell hit four sixes and five fours in his 35-ball 60, but he couldn’t quite get them through to the end after falling in the last over. .

Mahmud removed Powell and Alzarri Joseph in the final over, which started with West Indies needing ten runs to win. Mahmud had Powell caught behind and gave Bangladesh captain Litton Das his fifth dismissal of the match. With eight to win from the last two, Mahmud Joseph struck for Bangladesh’s first T20I win against the West Indies in six years; back home in Bangladesh, it was also a good way to start the country’s victory day.

Powell the almost man

However, it was all pear-shaped for Bangladesh for about four overs. West Indies were 61 for 7 in the 12th over when captain Powell, who had hit a four and a six until then, was joined by Romario Shepherd to revive his side.

The pair combined to take 15 from Rishad Hossain in the 14th over before Powell launched Taskin Ahmed for three sixes in a 23-run over to reduce the asking rate from over 11 overs to eight overs in 12 balls. Powell sliced ​​the first six against Taskin over extra cover, the next high over point before ending the over with a beautiful straight hit.

Tanzim Hasan then went for 12 runs in the 16th over with Powell hitting him for two fours, one of which brought up his half-century off just 28 balls, to bring the equation to 28 to win from 24 balls. There was no let up from the other end either, as Shepherd bowled Rishad for his first six, although he fell in the next over when Taskin had him caught at deep midwicket, for 22 off 17 balls.

Mahedi bowls WI top order

Bangladesh got off to a spectacular start with the ball as Taskin caught Brandon King at mid-on with his first ball. Six balls later, Mahedi lured Nicholas Pooran into an attack and hit him with a straight delivery to get him bowled for 1. Mahedi then had Johnson Charles caught at mid-off after he had hit Tanzim for two sixes in a 25 – run over. .

Mahedi struck twice in the seventh over when he had Andre Fletcher, a last-minute replacement in the squad, caught behind before Roston Chase fell inside a reverse sweep. As Mahedi finished his quota of four overs at 4 for 13, Bangladesh were in control of the game until Powell cut loose.

Hosein’s early strikes

West Indies also had a great powerplay with the ball as Akeal Hosein struck on consecutive balls. By cleaning up Tanzid Hasan for an 11-ball 6, Hosein became West Indies’ highest wicket-taker during the powerplays in the home T20I. He went past Samuel Badree’s 16 wickets in that phase of the innings and also continues to be the leading wicket-taker among spinners in powerplays since his T20I debut in July 2021.

Next ball Hosein continued Litton Das’ poor form from the ODIs and took his simple return catch. It was Litton’s second consecutive duck on this tour after scoring 4 and 2 in the first two ODIs.

Bangladesh takes off

Bangladesh’s batting recovery came via sixes. They struck out nine in innings, that one most they have struck against the West Indies in T20Is. However, the sixes started coming from the eighth over. Jaker Ali lifted Chase off the ground before Soumya Sarkar smashed Shepherd over the covers. He pasted Gudakesh Motie for two more sixes in the 11th over, followed by Jaker clipping Shepherd over square leg. When Obed McCoy removed Soumya for his 50th T20I wicket, Bangladesh were losing ground with five overs remaining.

Shamim Hossain, playing his first T20I in 12 months, got going next. He topped Alzarri Joseph for his first six before going straight at McCoy for the same result. Shamim got one more to Joseph in the 18th over before Mahedi blasted McCoy for a six over extra cover in the final over to almost take them to 150.

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84