B’desh bounce back, beat West Indies in first ODI

Providence:A record double-century partnership between Tamim Iqbal and Shakib al Hasan helped Bangladesh bounce back from their Test series drubbing with a 48-run win over West Indies in their opening ODI. Man of the Match Iqbal blasted an unbeaten 130, the highest by a Bangladeshi in ODIs against West Indies, while Shakib weighed in with 97 in a second-wicket partnership of 207.
Captain Mashrafe Mortaza then led the way with the ball, taking 4/37 as the hosts were restricted to 231/9 in reply. “It was important for us to make a strong statement here after the way we played in the Tests,” Mashrafe said after the victory at Guyana’s National Stadium. “This ground has been a happy one for us over the years and we are looking now to clinch the series in the next match on Wednesday.”
West Indies were on course to seriously challenge the target with Chris Gayle and Shimron Hetmyer at the crease. But when Gayle was run out for 40 and Hetmyer fell to Mustafizur Rahman for a top-score of 52, the innings went into freefall and an entertaining unbroken last-wicket stand of 59 between Devendra Bishoo and Alzarri Joseph merely delayed the inevitable. “For those of us who were involved in the Test series it mattered to us to come out here fighting and I am glad we did that,” Tamim said. — AFP
Brief scores: Bangladesh 279/4 (Tamim 130*, Shakib 97); West Indies 231 /9 (Hetmyer 52, Gayle 40; Mashrafe 4/37)