DHAKA: Defending champions West Indies kept their hopes of a semifinal berth alive with a resounding 73-run thrashing of hosts Bangladesh in a Group 2 Super 10 match of the World Twenty20 here on Tuesday.
Chasing a target of 172, Bangladesh’s inept batting performance once again brought about their downfall as they were 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 after having lost to India in theei 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 the failure of the Bangladeshi batsmen to perform on the 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 the first four overs.
Iqbal 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, but their dismissals virtually sealed the result in the Windies’ favour.
Earlier opener Dwayne Smith smashed a quickfire 72 as West Indies produced an improved batting show, to post a challenging 171/7.
Smith’s whirlwind knock came off just 43 balls, helpin consolidate the West Indies’ total, which could have been larger 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. (PTI)
Brief scores:
WI: 171/7, 20 overs (D Smith 72, C Gayle 48; A Hossain 3-21)
Ban: 98/10, 19.1 overs (M Rahim 22; S Badree 4-15, K Santokie 3-17, A Russell 2-10)