CHATTOGRAM, Bangladesh – A breathtaking late innings onslaught and disciplined bowling display propelled the West Indies to a 16-run victory over Bangladesh in a pulsating first T20I on Monday, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
The defining moment came from a blistering, unbroken 83-run partnership between captain Shai Hope and Rovman Powell, who transformed a struggling innings into a competitive total of 165-3.
The innings had stalled at 82 for 3 in the 13th over, with Brandon King (33) and Alick Athanaze (34) providing a solid start before the middle order faltered. Hope, finishing 46 not out off 28 balls, ignited the fightback with two towering sixes off leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, setting the stage for Powell’s explosive heroics.
On his 100th T20I, Powell unleashed a spectacular finish, blasting a 102-meter six off Mustafizur Rahman and following it with three consecutive sixes off Tanzim Hasan Sakib in the final over, finishing unbeaten on 44 from 28 deliveries.
“At the end of the innings, I was really pleased. It was difficult for me to start on the wicket; at one point, I was about 7 off 20 deliveries. But I just kept believing that if I could get a good shot, a good boundary, I would turn it around. We just needed to go as deep as possible,” Powell reflected after earning Player of the Match honors.
Bowling brilliance shuts down hosts
Chasing 166, Bangladesh were immediately hampered during the power play. Jayden Seales removed opener Tanzid Hassan (15), followed swiftly by Akeal Hosein, who claimed the wickets of captain Litton Das (5) and Saif Hassan (8).
The collapse continued under the pressure of West Indies’ incisive attack. Jason Holder struck three crucial wickets, including Shamim Hossain, while Seales finished with a tidy 3-31, reducing Bangladesh to 117 for 7. Tailenders Tanzim Hasan (33) and Nasum Ahmed (20) offered a brief glimmer of resistance, but Holder’s dismissal of Tanzim in the 16th over effectively ended the contest. The innings concluded bizarrely when Taskin Ahmed was dismissed hit-wicket after hitting a six, encapsulating a frustrating day for the hosts.
Series momentum with West Indies
The victory not only showcased the West Indies’ all-round depth but also set the tone for the remainder of the series. With the second T20I scheduled for Wednesday at the same venue, the Windies head into the next match brimming with confidence, while Bangladesh will seek redemption in front of their home crowd.
