Bangladesh edge out West Indies for series win

DHAKA (AFP) –

Bangladesh batsman Mohammad Mahmudullah plays a shot during their fifth one day international against the West Indies at The Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. A spirited Bangladesh led by all-rounder Mamhmudullah edged out the West Indies in the fifth and final one-day by four wickets in Dhaka on Saturday, taking the series 3-2.

A spirited Bangladesh led by all-rounder Mohammad Mahmudullah edged out the West Indies in the fifth and final one-day by two wickets in Dhaka on Saturday, taking the series 3-2.

Mahmudullah took 2-38 to help the home team bowl the tourists for 217 in 48 overs and then scored a polished 48 to help Bangladesh chase down the target for the loss of eight wickets with six overs to spare.

Bangladesh won the first match by seven wickets and the second by 160 runs — both in Khulna. The West Indies levelled the series with a four wicket win in the third and 75 runs in the fourth.

Both teams will now play a Twenty20 international in Dhaka on Monday.

It was Mahmudullah and captain Mushfiqur Rahim (44) who set the home team on the victory path through their 91-run stand for the fourth wicket after paceman Kemar Roach (5-56) had derailed them in early overs.

Roach struck thrice in his first five overs, removing Tamim Iqbal (eight), Anamul Haque (nought) and Jahurul Islam (10) to leave the home team in disarray at 30-3.

Mahmudullah hit seven boundaries in his 45-ball knock while Rahim smacked as many boundaries in his 56-ball knock.

But the West Indies staged a comeback through Sunil Narine (3-38) as the spinner removed both the batsmen in the space of 12 runs.

Nasir Hossain (39 not out) and Mominul Haque (25) added 53 for the sixth wicket as Bangladesh survived a late order slump to reach the target. Nasir hit Andre Russell for the winning boundary to send the packed crowd into jubilation.

Rahim was delighted with the series win.

Bangladesh batsman Jahurul Islam plays a shot during their fifth one day international against the West Indies at The Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. A spirited Bangladesh edged out the West Indies in the fifth and final one-day by four wickets in Dhaka on Saturday, taking the series 3-2.

“Boys stuck to the task, we knew it will be the test of nerves and happy to execute our plans and win the series,” said Rahim. “We did not bat well in the last two matches so we needed to do the right things in all three departments.

“I thought today we did a good job after losing the first three wickets. It’s a good signs for us.”

West Indian captain Darren Sammy praised Bangladesh.

“Congratulations to Bangladesh, they played well,” said Sammy. “We were in a good position to score 240 but we did not get there. We have had a good year but this might put a dent on our Christmas.

“But everything happens for a reason and hope to improve.”

Earlier, Kieron Pollard hit a return to form with a robust 74-ball 85 and Darren Bravo notched a sedate 108-ball 51 during their 132-run fourth wicket stand to lift the tourists to 217 after they were put into bat.

Bangladesh had removed Kieran Powell (11), Marlon Samuels (one) and Chris Gayle (two) by the eight over.

Paceman Shafiul Islam, who replaced injured Mashrafe Mortaza in the squad, dismissed Gayle for a fifth failure in as many matches to finish with 3-31 in his nine overs.

Pollard, who like Gayle was a big flop in the last four matches, hit a six for his first scoring shot as he batted with aggression. He hit five boundaries and eight towering sixes to take the attack to the Bangladeshi bowlers.

He was finally dismissed in the 32nd over, bowled by spinner Haque. The Pollard-Bravo stand for the fourth wicket is a new record in all West Indies-Bangladesh one-dayers, beating the 92-run stand between Jimmy Adams and Shivnarine Chanderpaul in Dhaka in 1999.

Bravo hit three boundaries and a six before he was caught off Mahmudullah who finished with 2-38.

Devon Thomas chipped in with a useful 25 to take the West Indies past the 200-run mark.