Bangladesh Achieves First Whitewash Against the West Indies

In a stunning display of cricketing prowess, the Bangladesh Tigers have etched their name in history by achieving their first-ever whitewash against the West Indies. Having already clinched victory in the first two matches of the series, the final game in St. Vincent was merely a matter of pride for the Caribbean side. However, they faltered spectacularly, succumbing to an 80-run defeat.

Winning the toss, Bangladesh opted to bat first and set a formidable target of 189 runs, losing 7 wickets in the process. The standout performer was Zakir Ali, whose explosive unbeaten 72 off 41 balls propelled the team to a commanding score. In response, the West Indies crumbled, bowled out for just 109 runs in 16.4 overs.

The match began ominously for the West Indies, as Taskin Ahmed struck in the very first over, trapping Brandon King lbw. Despite a review, King was unable to escape the fate that had befallen him in every match of the series. A brief rain delay couldn’t dampen Bangladesh’s momentum, as they returned to dismantle the West Indies’ batting line-up. Sheikh Mehedi quickly made an impact, taking a wicket in his first over as Justin Greaves fell while attempting a big shot.

Though Nicholas Pooran and Johnson Charles attempted to stabilize the innings, Pooran was bowled out by Mehedi for 15 runs. Roston Chase followed suit without scoring, and Charles fell victim to a run-out after scoring 23 runs. The West Indies found themselves reeling, losing five wickets before reaching the team’s fifty.

The hosts struggled to recover, with Rovman Powell and Gudakesh Motie falling quickly. Romario Shepherd’s 33 runs off 27 balls offered little consolation as the team disintegrated.

Rishad Hossain emerged as Bangladesh’s bowling hero, claiming three wickets for just 21 runs. Taskin and Mehedi each took two wickets, while Tanzeem Sakib and Hasan Mahmud chipped in with one apiece.

Bangladesh’s innings began with an aggressive flourish, led by Parvez Hossain Emon, who formed a solid 44-run opening partnership with Liton Das, scoring 39 runs off just 21 balls. The team amassed 54 runs during the power play, setting the tone for their innings.

Though Tanzid Tamim showed promise, he could only muster 9 runs, leaving Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Zakir Ali to steer the ship. Miraz contributed 29 runs off 23 balls, while Zakir Ali’s explosive knock, featuring 3 fours and 6 sixes, secured his unbeaten 72 runs off 41 balls.

Notably, Zakir’s partnership with Tanzeem Sakib, who scored 17 runs off 12 balls, added valuable runs to the total. With this remarkable victory, Bangladesh proudly celebrates its first whitewash against the West Indies, a testament to their growing stature in international cricket.