West Indies batsman Shai Hope (L) shakes hands with Bangladesh captain Mashrafee bin Murtaza after guiding his team to victory in the second one-day international match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday. — AFP photo
Opener Shai Hope smashed a brilliant century to help West Indies eke out a thrilling four-wicket win over Bangladesh in the second one-day international and square off-three-match series in Mirpur on Tuesday.
Opener Hope stayed unbeaten on 146 off 144 balls to guide West Indies to 256-6 in 49.4 overs after the visitors restricted Bangladesh to 255-7, despite half-centuries from Sakib al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal.
Bowlers made it a match out of the modest total for Bangladesh but Hope kept his cool under pressure to take West Indies home in the nervy contest.
Hope received brilliant support from tail-ender Keemo Paul, who stayed 18 not out to complete the win after being dropped twice on six and 11 by substitute fielder Nazmul Islam.
Bangladesh thought they have a chance once Mustafizur Rahman dismissed Roston Chase for nine to leave West Indies 185-6 in 39th over.
But Hope and Paul denied them further success, putting 71-run for seventh wicket in little over 10 overs.
The match swung decisively towards West Indies’ way when Hope struck Mustafiz three fours in the penultimate over to leave only six runs needed from the final over.
West Indies got off to a poor start as Mehedi Hasan trapped opener Chandrapaul Hemraj in front for three in the second over but Hope steadied the inning putting 65-run with Darren Bravo for the second wicket.
Rubel Hossain bowled Bravo round the leg for 27 but a tenacious Hope found a new ally in Marlon Samuels as the duo added 62-run for the third wicket.
Mustafiz’s dismissal of Samuels (26) came as a relief for Bangladesh, who then quickly removed Shimron Hetmyer (14), Rovman Powell (one) and Roston Chase (nine) to claw their way back into the contest only to be denied by Hope finally.
Bangladesh apparently paid the price for their poor batting in slog overs as they could score just 26 in last five overs, including five in final two overs, despite three of their regular stalwarts hitting fifties.
Sakib made highest 65 off 62 balls while Mushfiq and Tamim contributed 62 and 50 runs respectively after West Indies captain Rovman Powell put them in after winning his second successive toss.
Mushfiq and Tamim shared 111 runs for the second wicket after West Indies pacer Oshane Thomas worked up lively pace early in the innings.
Thomas, who finished with highest 3-54, forced Liton Das to leave the field before he took a thick edge from Imrul Kayes to hand him a duck.
Tamim and Mushfiq steadied the innings to score their respective 43rd and 32nd fifties before they fell in quick succession.
Tamim, who at 47 completed his 12,000 international runs, was caught by Kemar Roach at deep midwicket off legs-pinner Devendra Bishoo and Mushfiq soon was caught behind off Thomas.
Sakib and Mamudullah (30) put 61 runs to bring the innings back on track before West Indies clawed their way back into the match with few quick strikes.
Liton returned from hospital to resume his innings after Soumya Sakar departed for six, but was unable make any significant contribution.
But Sakib, who was reprieved off a Thomas no-ball, scored his 40th fifty to ensure Bangladesh got a decent score.
The third and final match of the series will be held in Sylhet on Friday.
Source: New Age.