Bangladesh has achieved a historic milestone by clinching their first-ever T20I series victory against the West Indies on foreign soil, defeating them decisively by 27 runs to secure the series 2-0. The monumental win at the Arnos Vale Stadium showcases Bangladesh's growing prowess in international cricket, particularly in the T20 format where the team has faced challenges traditionally dominated by the certain teams.
The second T20I match took place on December 18, with the West Indies winning the toss and opting to bowl first. Bangladesh managed to score 129 runs, with Shamim Hossain being the standout performer with the bat, scoring 35 runs off just 17 balls.
Bangladesh captain Litton Das expressed his joy following the victory. “I'm very happy, not only me but all the Bangladeshi people. We were looking at such a win,” said Das, acknowledging the performance of his teammates and the importance of team effort. He credited Shamim's innings as pivotal and highlighted the bowlers' effective strategy throughout the series.
On the other side, West Indies captain Rovman Powell voiced his disappointment with the team’s performance, particularly with the batting lineup. “It’s disappointing, as a batting group, we have let down ourselves miserably in the last few series,” he remarked, stressing the need for reflection and improvement. Powell noted the difference the pitch made, which had less grass cover compared to previous encounters, causing the team to struggle throughout the series.
Bangladesh started strong with openers Soumya Sarkar and Mahedi Hasan setting the tone early on. Despite Litton Das falling for a duck, the middle-order players contributed enough to post 129, which initially seemed competitive. West Indies' pace attack, consisting of Romario Shepherd and Akeal Hosein, missed opportunities to maintain consistent pressure during the innings.
While Rovman Powell stood out for West Indies with 60 runs off 35 balls during their chase, the team faltered as wickets fell quickly on one end. Taskin Ahmed, exceptional with the ball, continued to make things difficult for the West Indies, capturing key wickets early on.
Taskin commented on the team spirit and determination, noting, “When we take wickets, whoever come to the bowling they give us wickets. It's all about team effort.” His performance was instrumental as he ended with figures of 3 for 12.
Despite the efforts from Powell and Chase, who added some resistance late with their partnership, the last-minute push wasn’t enough to secure even the tie. West Indies crumbled, finishing their innings at 102 all out. The collective bowling performance from Bangladesh was highlighted as they maintained control throughout the match, ensuring West Indies never built partnerships.
This disappointing result puts the West Indies team on edge as they have now encountered two consecutive T20I series losses. With one match still remaining, the team needs to reassess their strategies and approach to avoid being swept by Bangladesh, who are displaying increasing confidence and skill.
With the series concluded, the final match will take place on December 20, providing the West Indies with one last opportunity to redeem themselves. Fans are eager to see if the West Indies can draw on their home advantage to bounce back or if Bangladesh will continue their dominance on this tour.
Whether one is rooting for the underdogs or supporting the home team, one thing remains clear: the West Indies must regroup and bring their best game to the field to tackle the rising challenge posed by Bangladesh.
