Seales and King end Bangladesh’s ODI dominance over Windies | sport

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (CMC):

JAYDEN SEALES’ clinical spell of fast bowling, followed by a dominant batting performance led by Brandon King, led the West Indies to a lopsided seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh at Warner Park in Basseterre, St Kitts yesterday – their first win in the ODI series them in 10 years.

With Alzarri Joseph rested, man-of-the-match Seales ran through Bangladesh’s top order and grabbed the first three wickets to bowl the visitors out for 227 in 45.5 overs after the West Indies won the toss and went for had decided the field.

King then top-scored with 82 from 76 balls as all Windies batters made solid contributions, helping the home side take three to 230 in 36.5 overs.

The result meant the West Indies took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, ending Bangladesh’s streak of 11 consecutive ODI wins against them dating back to 2014.

The victory was set up by a stingy spell from Seales, who bowled a consistent line and length, causing numerous problems for the Bangladesh batsmen.

However, Bangladesh got off to a bright start as Tanzid Hasan gave debutant Marquino Mindley a tough start, hitting him with two sixes and a four in his second over, resulting in 18 runs as Bangladesh raced to 26 without loss after three overs.

Seales struck with the first ball of the fourth over when he shot Soumya Sarkar straight into the hands of Gudakesh Motie after two hits at mid-on.

Litton Das struggled for four runs through 19 balls before Seales took the lead with his intended pull and Evin Lewis took a fine catch as he skipped forward at backward point to take the score to 41-2.

Seales then got the important wicket of captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who bowled a single from the inside edge while trying to move his arm with his shoulder outside the off-stump, resulting in Bangladesh slipping to 54 for three.

Tanzid Hasan hit pacer Justin Greaves twice in a row in his first over but slapped the next delivery straight into the hands of Roston Chase at back point and was out in the 11th over with 46 and a score of 64 for four.

Afif Hossain and Mahmudullah added 36 runs for the fifth wicket to take the total to 100, but spinner Gudakesh Motie accounted for both Hossain with 24 and Jaker Ali for 3, and Mindley got his first international wicket by taking Rishad Hossain for a duck and Bangladesh were in even more trouble at 115 for seven.

It took a record eighth-wicket partnership of 92 between Mahmudullah, who made 62 off 92 balls with four sixes and two fours, and Tanzim Hasan Sakib to help their side to a respectable total.

They took the score to 207 before Roston Chase caught Sakib and bowled him for 45 and Seales came back to take the wicket of Mahmudullah.

The innings came to an end soon after and Seales had a tally of 4-22 from nine overs while Motie secured a tally of 2-36 from ten overs.

The West Indies then made light work of themselves as openers King and Lewis laid the foundation for a 109-run partnership.

King was the more dominant of the two and got to his half-century in 52 balls, smashing Rishan Hossain to the fine leg boundary and taking the score to 88 without loss.

Lewis seemed ready to join him until he gave the same bowler the easiest return catch and lost his wicket for 49 after 62 balls.

Keacy Carty joined King at bat and the pair added 66 runs in eight overs to make the contest even tighter.

However, King was bowled by pacer Nahid Rana, failing to even make a century, while Carty scored 45 before being dismissed by Afif Hossain.

Captain Shai Hope and the in-form Sherfane Rutherford then led their side to victory in an unbroken 33 to seal the deal.