Tamim leads Bangladesh to series win against Windies

BANGLADESH held off a late charge from the West Indies to claim a series-clinching 18-run win in the decisive third and final match of their one-day international duel at Warner Park in St Kitts yesterday.

After Tamim Iqbal’s (pix) second hundred of the series and a quickfire unbeaten half-century by Mohammad Mahmudullah paced the visitors to a formidable 301 for six, the hosts were restricted to 283 for six in reply despite a rampaging unbeaten 74 off just 41 balls by Rovman Powell.

It was Bangladesh’s first series win outside of Asia for nine years, set up by their highest total in an ODI against the West Indies.

With the series all square following the hosts’ thrilling threerun win in the second match under lights in Guyana last Wednesday, Bangladesh set the pace in this decider with their top-order batting justifying the decision by captain Mashrafe Mortaza to bat first after he won the toss for the third consecutive time.

Tamim’s confident 103 off 124 balls with seven fours and two sixes again provided his team with a solid foundation, his innings lifting his tally in the three matches to 287 runs at an outstanding average of 143.5.

He was the obvious choice as both man of the match and man of the series.

“We put a lot of effort in this series after the disappointments of the Test matches,” said Tamim.

“I was required to bat long and was able to do it successfully. Patience is the key to get runs on the pitches we had in this series, especially in Guyana.”

Tamim found a reliable partner in Shakib al Hasan, the pair putting on 81 runs for the second wicket.

With a rejuvenated Chris Gayle anchoring their reply, the West Indies remained on course for the daunting target until the big lefthander fell for 73 off 66 balls, Mehidy Hasan taking the catch at long-on in Rubel Hossain’s first over.

From there the innings stalled fatally as Shai Hope occupied 94 deliveries in getting to 64 and by the time he fell, with the score at 224 for five in the 44th over, the West Indies had left themselves with too much to do notwithstanding Powell’s effort.

“We didn’t progress at the rate we should have in the middle overs and left ourselves with too much to do at the end,” West Indies captain Jason Holder said. – AFP