Bangladesh secured a resounding 80-run victory over the West Indies in the third T20 International at the Arnos Vale Stadium in St. Vincent on Thursday. This win completed a 3-0 series sweep for Bangladesh.
Jaker Ali's unbeaten 72 was the cornerstone of Bangladesh's triumph. He smashed six sixes and three fours in his 41-ball innings.
Jaker's explosive performance propelled Bangladesh to a challenging total of 189 for seven after Bangladesh captain, Litton Das, had chosen to bat first.
Scorecard: West Indies vs Bangladesh, 3rd T20I
The West Indies struggled throughout the series and this match was no different. They were bowled out for 109 in 16.4 overs. Romario Shepherd's 33 was the top score for the West Indies.
The West Indies chase faltered early, losing Brandon King on the second ball of the innings. This early setback set the tone for their innings.
Rishad Hossain led the bowling attack for Bangladesh, taking three wickets for 21 runs. Mahedi Hasan, named “Man of the Series”, claimed two wickets.
Taskin Ahmed also secured two wickets for Bangladesh, including the key wickets of Brandon King and Obed McCoy. His contributions were crucial to Bangladesh's victory.
Parvez Hossain Emon, making his debut, opened the innings for Bangladesh in place of the injured Soumya Sarkar. He scored a quick 39 off 21 balls.
Jaker Ali's innings was not without incident. He was initially adjudged run out on 18 following a mix-up with Shamim Hossain. Television replays showed Jaker had made his ground. Shamim Hossain was the batsman dismissed in the mix-up.
Jaker's near dismissal proved to be a turning point in the match. His subsequent aggressive batting demoralized the West Indies.
At the end of the innings, Shamim Hossain embraced Jaker Ali, showing the camaraderie within the Bangladesh team.
Bangladesh's dominant performance throughout the series highlights their growing strength in T20 cricket. Jaker Ali and Mahedi Hasan were key performers for Bangladesh.
The series was a disappointing one for the West Indies. It underscores the need for them to rebuild their T20 side. The West Indies will be looking to improve their performance in future matches.
