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Rovman Powell’s brilliant 60 off 35 balls nearly led the West Indies to an unlikely victory after they were reduced to 38 for 5, but Bangladesh held firm to secure a seven-run win in the first T20I at the Arnos Vale Ground. In front of a passionate crowd, West Indies played their first international match […]
Rovman Powell’s brilliant 60 off 35 balls nearly led the West Indies to an unlikely victory after they were reduced to 38 for 5, but Bangladesh held firm to secure a seven-run win in the first T20I at the Arnos Vale Ground. In front of a passionate crowd, West Indies played their first international match in St. Vincent in a decade, offering a thrilling contest. Defending a modest 147, Mahedi Hasan’s four-wicket haul had the hosts on the ropes, but Powell’s explosive innings, featuring four sixes and five fours, brought them within striking distance. However, his valiant effort fell short after he was dismissed in the final over.
Hasan Mahmud emerged as the hero for Bangladesh, defending nine runs in the final over. He first had Powell caught behind, with Litton Das taking his fifth dismissal of the match. Needing eight runs from the last two balls, Mahmud sealed the win by bowling out Alzarri Joseph, securing Bangladesh’s first T20I victory over the West Indies in six years. Back home in Bangladesh, it was a perfect way to celebrate Victory Day.
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For about four overs, it seemed like Bangladesh had the game in control, with West Indies struggling at 61 for 7 in the 12th over. But that’s when captain Rovman Powell, who had hit just a four and a six until then, was joined by Romario Shepherd to spark a revival. The duo attacked Rishad Hossain, taking 15 runs off the 14th over, before Powell exploded in the next, blasting Taskin Ahmed for three sixes in a 23-run over. This barrage brought the required rate down from over 11 to eight runs per over in just 12 balls. Powell’s first six off Taskin sailed over extra cover, the second cleared point, and the third was a perfect straight hit down the ground.
Tanzim Hasan was then taken for 12 runs in the 16th over, with Powell smashing him for two fours, one of which brought up his rapid half-century off just 28 balls. This reduced the target to 28 runs from 24 balls. The pressure didn’t ease from the other end either, as Shepherd launched his first six off Rishad. However, he was dismissed the following over when Taskin had him caught at deep midwicket for 22 off 17 balls.
Bangladesh made a stunning start with the ball, as Taskin Ahmed had Brandon King caught at mid-off off his very first delivery. Just six balls later, Mahedi Hasan lured Nicholas Pooran into a charge, only to beat him with a straight delivery, which saw Pooran stumped for just 1. Mahedi continued his brilliance, having Johnson Charles caught at mid-off after Charles had hammered Tanzim for two sixes in a 25-run over.
Mahedi struck twice more in the seventh over, dismissing Andre Fletcher, a late addition to the squad, caught behind, before Roston Chase fell to an inside edge off a reverse sweep. By the time Mahedi completed his spell, claiming 4 for 13, Bangladesh were firmly in control of the game, despite Powell’s late charge.
West Indies had an impressive powerplay with the ball, thanks to Akeal Hosein, who struck on consecutive deliveries. He first cleaned up Tanzid Hasan for just 6 off 11 balls, becoming West Indies’ highest wicket-taker in powerplays during home T20Is, surpassing Samuel Badree’s tally of 16 wickets. Hosein also extended his record as the leading wicket-taker among spinners in powerplays since his T20I debut in July 2021.
Hosein’s success continued as he ended Litton Das’ poor form from the ODIs, taking a straightforward return catch. This marked Litton’s second consecutive duck on the tour, after scoring just 4 and 2 in the first two ODIs.
Bangladesh’s batting recovery was fueled by a flurry of sixes, with nine in total—the most they have hit against West Indies in T20Is. The sixes began to flow from the eighth over, with Jaker Ali lofting Roston Chase down the ground, followed by Soumya Sarkar smashing Romario Shepherd over covers. Jaker then launched Gudakesh Motie for two more sixes in the 11th over, and Soumya hit Shepherd over square leg. However, when Obed McCoy dismissed Soumya for his 50th T20I wicket, Bangladesh found themselves struggling with five overs remaining.
Shamim Hossain, playing his first T20I in 12 months, joined the assault. He top-edged Alzarri Joseph for his first six, then went straight down the ground against McCoy for another. Shamim added one more six against Joseph in the 18th over, before Mahedi Hasan blasted McCoy over extra cover in the final over, bringing Bangladesh close to 150.
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