The West Indies celebrate after whitewashing Bangladesh 3-0
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
The West Indies completed their 3-0 series whitewash of Bangladesh behind incredible centuries from wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin and batsman Darren Bravo.
However, despite losing by 91 runs, Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal and captain Mushfiqur Rahim both deserve some credit as they scored valiant half-centuries.
West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo would have been regretting his decision to bat first initially after opening batsman Lendl Simmons was caught by Mahmudullah at mid-off off the bowling of Mashrafe Mortaza for six runs.
Chris Gayle also made six runs before he was caught behind off the bowling of Al-Amin Hossain.
Ramdin and Bravo put the West Indies back in the driver’s seat with their record-breaking 258-run partnership, during which both batsmen brought up their second ODI centuries, before Bravo was caught by Imrul Kayes at point off the bowling of Mahmudullah.
Bravo’s career-best knock of 124 came off 127 balls and included seven boundaries and eight sixes.
Bravo hit seven boundaries and eight sixes during his career-best innings of 124
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The 258-run partnership between Ramdin and Bravo is now the West Indies’ highest stand in ODI history, beating the 226-run fourth-wicket partnership between Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Carl Hooper against South Africa in East London in 1999.
Kieron Pollard only made 10 runs before he was caught by Iqbal at long-on off the bowling of Abdur Razzak.
Darren Sammy also scored 10 runs before he was caught by Razzak at deep extra cover off the bowling of Hossain.
Ramdin ended up making a career-best 169, which came off just 121 deliveries and included eight boundaries and an incredible 11 sixes, before he was caught by Nasir Hossain off the bowling of Al-Amin Hossain.
Ramdin now holds the record for the highest ODI score by a West Indian batsman on home soil
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Ramdin’s innings of 169 is the highest score by a West Indian batsman in an ODI on home soil. The previous record holder was Desmond Haynes, who made 152 against India in Georgetown in 1989.
Ramdin’s 11 sixes is also the most by a West Indian batsman on home soil, easily beating the nine maximums Gayle hit against New Zealand in Kingston in 2o12.
Hossain struck again the very next ball when Jason Holder was also caught by Nasir Hossain for a golden duck.
Thanks to Ramdin and Bravo, the West Indies finished on 338/7 off their 50 overs. The West Indies’ final score of 338 is the most runs they have scored in an ODI at home, surpassing the 337 they scored against Zimbabwe in Grenada last year.
During their innings, the West Indies hit 19 sixes, which is the most they have ever hit in an ODI, beating the 14 they smashed against Canada in 2008.
Hossain was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Mahmudullah, Mortaza and Razzak chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Chasing a mammoth 339 to win, Bangladesh got off to an awful start as Anamul Haque was caught by Sammy at second slip off the bowling of Holder for a duck.
Kayes only made one run before he was brilliantly caught by Kemar Roach at mid-on off the bowling of Ravi Rampaul.
Iqbal and Rahim stabilised the innings with a 99-run partnership, during which Iqbal brought up his half-century, before he was clean bowled by Sunil Narine for 55, which came off 62 balls and included nine boundaries.
Iqbal brought up his first half-century after 18 ODIs
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Mominul Haque failed to have an impact with the bat as he was caught by Sammy at first slip off the bowling of Dwayne Bravo for five runs.
Rahim ended up making 72 off 113 balls, which included eight boundaries, before he was caught by Sammy at square leg off the bowling of Rampaul.
Rahim made a gutsy 72
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Mahmudullah scored 27 runs before he was caught behind off the bowling of Roach.
Nasir Hossain mustered 26 runs before he was caught by Roach at long-on off the bowling of Rampaul.
Sohag Gazi made a rapid 24 before he was clean bowled by Rampaul.
Bangladesh eventually finished on 247/8 at the end of their 50 overs, which left them 91 runs short of their target.
Rampaul was the most successful bowler with four wickets, while Holder, Bravo, Roach and Narine claimed one wicket each.
Rahim was gutted to have lost the match, and said: “I thought they [Bangladesh] bowled really well up front, but the way they scored 300 it was always going to be difficult. I thought they were too good on the day. There is a lot of work to be done before the T20 as we need to come up with some good plans for these short boundaries and big hitters. I thought Anamul played really well in the first match, and then Tamim really played well today.”
Bravo was delighted to have whitewashed Bangladesh 3-0, and said: “It is a great team effort. Happy to win this series 3-0. Congratulations to the entire team, the management, all the other guys. 3-0 is a better result than 2-1. Special congrats for Darren Bravo and Denesh Ramdin on their hundreds today. The guys are hungry for success and that is very important. When we sit down to discuss our team plans we have always discussed how important it is to be consistent and to play the brand of cricket that we are capable of. We now look forward to the T20 game, and we hope to come with the same attitude. Not much is going to change as we are hungry for success. We want to keep putting on a good team effort going forward. We look forward to great things ahead.”
Ramdin was named Man of the Match and Man of the Series, and said: “Dwayne said he needed someone to bat through the innings and I put my hand up. Darren helped me get there and rotate the strike and hit some boundaries on the way. Bangladesh’s seamers bowled well early, then Darren took over and then finally I took over to look for quick runs. Spending time on the golf course may have helped with my good form! I just try to give myself time in the middle and not look to hit too hard in the nets. I was never thinking about the record.”