Mirpur, Mar 26: Defending champions West Indies kept their hopes alive of a semi-final berth with a resounding 73-run thrashing of hosts Bangladesh in a Group 2 Super 10 match of the ICC World Twenty20 here today.
Chasing a target of 172, Bangladesh's inept batting performance once again brought about their downfall as they bundled out out for a paltry 98 in 19.1 overs.
The margin of victory also ensured that West Indies improved their net run-rate radically having lost to India in their opening league game with two balls to spare.
Leg-spinner Samuel Badree had impressive figures of four for 15 which had more to do with ineptitude of the Bangladeshi batsmen to perform on big stage rather than the venom in his deliveries. Left-arm seamer Krishmar Santokie also chipped in with three wickets for 17.
The writing was on the wall once Bangladesh lost their first first three wickets, including two of their senior players, Tamim Iqbal (5) and Shakib al Hasan (0) within first four overs.
Tamim was out when Dwayne Bravo took a low catch at mid-off and Shakib misjudged an incutter from Santokie only to find the stumps rattled.
In between, Anamul Haque Bijoy (10), who had started with two boundaries was stumped by Denesh Ramdin off Santokie's bowling.
Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (22) in company of Mominul Haque (17) tried to resurrect the innings. Momin hit a couple of boundaries including a cheeky scoop over the keeper's head but then flashed at a rising delivery which Marlon Samuels failed to catch at deep third man.
He apparently didn't learn from his mistakes trying an ugly slog sweep off Sunil Narine only ending up giving a high catch to Santokie standing at short fine-leg.
Badree sealed the match in the 11th over with three wickets.
A long-hop got Sabbir Ahmed (1) out as he found out the only fielder at short mid-wicket in rival captain Darren Sammy. Rahim had some intent but a brilliant Dwayne Bravo plucked one inches off the ground when Rahim tried to cut a wide delivery from Badree.
With the last ball of his spell, Badree removed Mahmudallah who tried to cut a delivery that had extra bounce.
As the seventh wicket fell, the partisan crowd slowly started leaving the stadium premises.
Earlier opener Dwayne Smith smashed a quickfire 72 as West Indies produced an improved batting show, to post a challenging 171 for seven.
Smith whirlwind knock came off just 43 balls that helped in consolidating the West Indies total which could have been much more had Chris Gayle been able to play his natural attacking game as he huffed and puffed en route his run-a-ball 48 that had three fours and two sixes.
Bangaldesh's inconsistent effort on the outfield also contributed to West Indies' cause.
One end, there was Tamim Iqbal, who took a few stunners, some of the other fielders conceded at least 15 runs at the ropes.
Seamer Al-Amin Hossain was the most successful Bangladeshi bowler grabbing three wickets for 21 while Zia-ur Rahman, Shakib and Mahmudallah got a wicketeach.
Al-Amin in fact bagged all his three scalps in the last over in which the Caribbeans lost four wickets scoring only four runs.
Gayle was again not in his element as his stay at the crease was an absolute struggle. Since his game is based on minimul footwork, he was finding it difficult to come to the pitch of the deliveries bowled by Bangladeshi spinners. In his first 30 runs, the only six he hit was a lofted shot over long-on.
His second six was the one that took him from 36 to 42 as he hit Shakib over long-on. But he was finally out for a run-a-ball 48 when he tried to hoist seamer Zia-ur Rahman over long-off but Tamim Iqbal took a well-judged catch at the ropes.
Smith, on the other hand, shrugged off the rustiness that affected his game against India as he looked in control against the spinners, especially off-spinner Sohag Gazi, who was brought in for his good record against Chris Gayle.
While Gazi was able to keep Gayle quiet, Smith took off from the other end as he looked in complete control. He played the slog sweep and the reverse sweep to good effect against Gazi. He also muscled a lot of deliveries through the vacant mid-wicket region. In the 10th over of the innings, he hit Gazi for four consecutive boundaries. He reached his 50 off 33 balls.
The three sixes Smith hit were all in the region between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket. The first was a flat batted shot over square leg off pacer Al-Amin while the next couple was hit off leggie Sabbir Ahmed and offie Mahmudullah. He was finally caught by a fumbling Al-Amin when Smith went for yet another slog sweep.
His innings had 10 fours and three sixes.
The opening partnership was a productive one of 97 runs but Gayle could be safely termed as a silent partner in that stand. His contribution was only 19.
Lendl Simons (0) was out first ball as Shakib fired one down leg-side. Simons was unable to keep his balance and dragged his backfoot out of the crease as Mushfiqur Rahim completed a smart stumping.
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