The ‘Bangla Tigers’ won their first T20I in West Indies in 15 years as Mahedi Hasan’s 4-fer triggered a dramatic batting collapse of West Indies in the run chase. The tourists took the first T20I at Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, by seven runs despite an aggressive 60 from Rovman Powell off 35 balls going in vain.
Mahedi Mania Overshadows Shadab Khan
Mahedi created a new record with the best bowling figures by a visiting spinner against the West Indies, overtaking Pakistan’s Shadab Khan four years ago in Port of Spain, who had taken 4/14 from seven years back.
Appalling Start for West Indies
Electing to bowl first, early pressure saw Akeal Hosein dismissing Tanzid Hasan and Litton Das off consecutive deliveries in the third over. By the end of the powerplay, Roston Chase bowled Afif Hossain out in the sixth over, leaving Bangladesh at 32/3.
Momentum to the visitors was provided when Jaker Ali hit the first six of the innings in the eighth over. Soumya Sarkar accelerated in the 11th over, smashing Gudakesh Motie for two consecutive sixes.
Some Cameos Consolidated Bangladesh’s Innings
Bangladesh lost Jaker Ali in the 13th over to Romario Shepherd for 27 runs from 27 balls. Soumya Sarkar was dismissed by Obed McCoy in the 15th over for a 32-ball 43, which contained two fours and three sixes. However, Shamim Hossain’s aggressive 27 off just 13 balls, containing three sixes, gave Bangladesh a great boost in the slog overs. He was dismissed off the penultimate ball of the innings by McCoy.
Mahedi Hasan stayed unbeaten on 26 from 24 balls, and Bangladesh posted 147/6 after their 20 overs.
Mahedi’s Heroics Spark West Indies Collapse
West Indies’ run chase got off to a disastrous start as Taskin Ahmed dismissed Brandon King in his first over. Mahedi struck an early blow by removing Nicholas Pooran, who was stumped.
Life came into the run chase by Johnson Charles two sixes and one four off Tanzim Hasan Sakib in the third over. In that over West Indies had amassed 25. Mahedi further enhanced his brilliant spell as he got the wicket of Charles for 20 off 12 balls. In the third over of Mahedi two more came to take his wicket Andre Fletcher and Roston Chase as West Indies fell back at 38/5 by the seventh over.
Powell’s Brave Fifty In A Losing Effort
Rovman Powell kept the hopes alive with a fighting performance even though the collapse had occurred. In the 15th over, he smashed three sixes off Taskin Ahmed, reaching his fifty in just 28 balls. However, West Indies were in a precarious position with Motie dismissed by Sakib in the 11th over, leaving them at 61/7 by the 12th over.
Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain too claimed a crucial wicket when he sent back Akeal Hosein. Powell showed resilience in batting, but at the end, it could not be carried forward. Romario Shepherd scored 22 runs from 17 balls before Taskin took the wicket in the 18th over.
West Indies needed just 10 off the last over when pressure came down on Hasan Mahmud, as he composed himself and took the wicket of Powell and Alzarri Joseph to get West Indies all out on 140 with just one ball remaining.
