Tamim Iqbal scored his sixth fifty in the shortest format
Image courtesy of: Cricket West Indies
Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal smashed 74 and captain Shakib Al Hasan hammered 60 to lead their side to a 12-run win over the West Indies in Lauderhill.
Choosing to bowl first, the West Indies got the early breakthrough they were looking for as Bangladesh opener Liton Das was dismissed by Ashley Nurse for one run on the 11th ball of the match.
Mushfiqur Rahim only scored four runs before becoming Nurse’s second victim, while Soumya Sarkar made 14 prior to being caught by Rovman Powell at long-off off the bowling of Keemo Paul.
Despite losing quick wickets, Tamim and Shakib came to Bangladesh’s rescue as they amassed a 90-run partnership, during which Tamim cruised past his half-century.
He ended up making 74 off 44 balls, which included six boundaries and four sixes, before he was caught by Paul at long-on off the bowling of Andre Russell.
Shakib went on to score 60 off 38 deliveries, which included nine boundaries and a six, before he was sent packing by Paul.
With Mahmudullah making a quickfire 13 not out towards the end of the innings, Bangladesh finished on 171/5 off their 20 overs.
Nurse and Paul picked up two wickets apiece, while Russell chipped in with one.
Chasing 172 to win, the West Indies were dealt a big blow on the eighth ball of the innings as opener Evin Lewis was trapped lbw off the bowling of Mustafizur Rahman for one run.
Russell smashed 17 runs off 10 balls before he was caught behind off the bowling of Mustafizur.
Marlon Samuels and Denesh Ramdin fell shortly after before Powell and Andre Fletcher halted Bangladesh’s charge with a 58-run partnership.
Fletcher ended up making 43 off 38 balls, which included three boundaries and two sixes, before he was removed by Nazmul Islam.
West Indies skipper Carlos Brathwaite only scored 11, while Powell proceeded to make a 34-ball 43, which included three boundaries and two sixes, before he was caught behind off the bowling of Mustafizur.
Once Powell was gone, the West Indies’ hopes of winning the match were dashed and they ended up finishing on 159/9 off their 20 overs.
Mustafizur and Nazmul took three wickets apiece, while Shakib snapped up two and Rubel Hossain claimed one.
Brathwaite was disappointed to have lost, and said: “I thought the decision was right, we got a few wickets, put them under pressure. But we were casual in the field and that’s where the game turned. I still have full confidence in bouncing back. The question going into the break was maybe we could have chased much lesser.
“Casual fielding cost us, we could have improved our attitude a bit. I don’t know if I will be fine if I say this, but Ramdin’s DRS call was questionable. He is our glue.These things happen, but somedays, you have bad days with the bat but we shouldn’t have been chasing down those many. As long as the attitude is the same as the first game, we’ll be confident of winning.”
Shakib was thrilled to have levelled the series, and said: “I think the belief did it for us, after the loss in St Kitts. We had a good chat, had come to an agreement that we could beat this West Indies side. The mindset changed the momentum. The crowd support was a massive factor, we never felt like we played away from home. It felt like playing in Bangladesh. Hopefully they will come out in their numbers and support us tomorrow. Hider and all the bowlers were brilliant, Fizz went for a few runs but picked crucial wickets. Great team effort, all in all.”
Tamim was named Man of the Match, and said: “In St Kitts, the shot I played to get out, I thought it was on. Today, I gave myself time early on and then cashed in. Shakib played an unbelievable innings, he took a lot of pressure off me. He was looking good right from the time he came in. His early boundaries got us up and running. I love the pitch here, my first time in Florida.”