In a match brimming with dominance and precision, Jayden Seales and Brandon King propelled the West Indies to an emphatic seven-wicket triumph over Bangladesh at Warner Park, St. Kitts, on Tuesday.
This victory not only ended a decade-long drought of One-Day International (ODI) series wins against Bangladesh but also snapped their opponent’s 11-match winning streak in the format.
Player of the Match, Seales, delivered a scintillating display of fast bowling, dismantling Bangladesh’s top order with figures of 4-22 from nine overs. Meanwhile, King’s commanding innings of 82 off 76 balls ensured the Windies’ chase of 228 was executed with style and ease, wrapping up the series 2-0 with one match to spare.
The Seales onslaught
After winning the toss and opting to field, the Windies unleashed Seales, who wasted no time in establishing his authority. On a pitch that offered assistance, the young pacer’s relentless line and length wreaked havoc on Bangladesh’s batsmen.
Bangladesh began briskly, with Tanzid Hasan punishing debutant Marquino Mindley for two sixes and a four in a single over, racing to 26 without loss. However, Seales shifted the momentum in the fourth over. Soumya Sarkar’s mistimed chip to Gudakesh Motie marked the first breakthrough. Litton Das followed soon after, his mistimed pull finding Evin Lewis at backward point. Then came the pivotal scalp of captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz, bowled off an inside edge as he attempted to leave a delivery outside off.
Resilience amidst collapse
Bangladesh’s innings faltered further as Tanzid Hasan, after a fiery 46, succumbed to Roston Chase’s sharp fielding. Reduced to 64 for four, the visitors’ hopes rested on Mahmudullah’s shoulders. The veteran all-rounder forged a record eighth-wicket partnership of 92 with Tanzim Hasan Sakib, scoring a gritty 62 off 92 balls. Their resilience lifted Bangladesh to a respectable 227 before Seales returned to claim Mahmudullah’s wicket, sealing the innings’ fate in the 46th over.
Gudakesh Motie supported Seales with a tidy spell of 2-36, while Mindley celebrated his maiden ODI wicket by dismissing Rishad Hossain for a duck.
King leads the chase
The West Indies’ response was a masterclass in batting. Openers Brandon King and Evin Lewis set a solid platform with a 109-run stand. King’s strokeplay, a blend of finesse and power, saw him race to a half-century in just 52 balls. Lewis, though steady, fell just shy of his own milestone, caught and bowled for 49 by Rishad Hossain.
King continued to anchor the innings, adding 66 runs with Keacy Carty. The duo’s fluent partnership pushed the Windies closer to victory before King fell to Nahid Rana, bowled while seeking his century. Carty, too, played a significant role with a brisk 45 before Afif Hossain accounted for his dismissal.
With the target in sight, captain Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford steered their side home in an unbroken stand, sealing the win in just 36.5 overs.
Looking ahead
The commanding victory not only signals a resurgence for West Indies cricket but also serves as a morale booster ahead of the final ODI. Seales’ brilliant spell and King’s authoritative knock exemplify the Windies’ blend of youthful energy and seasoned poise.
Reflecting on the victory, Seales said, “The pitch had enough for me to exploit, and I’m glad I could deliver for the team.” King added, “Our focus was to build partnerships, and it’s great to see our plan work so well.”
The series win, a decade in the making, marks a pivotal moment for the Windies as they rebuild their ODI legacy with confidence and flair.
