1st ODI
Rutherford’s century has powered West Indies to victory and ending their losing streak against Bangladesh
Bangladesh scored 294/6 in 50 overs, where as West Indies scored 295/5 in 47.4 overs.
So, finally West Indies beat Bangladesh by five wickets.
Sherfane Rutherford blasted an 80-ball 113 to help West Indies snap their 11-match losing streak against Bangladesh in ODIs, taking an early lead in the three-match series.
Rutherford’s maiden ODI century, along with his fifth consecutive score of 50 or more, was well-supported by captain Shai Hope’s 86, as the hosts recovered from a sluggish start to comfortably chase down 294 – the highest successful chase at Warner Park in St Kitts.
The West Indies appeared to be in trouble during the chase, reaching 130 for 3 after 30 overs, leaving 164 runs to get off 120 balls.
Rutherford had started slowly, on 19 off 29, while the asking rate climbed.
Hope, however, had anchored the innings with a steady half-century.
Bangladesh, having finished the first innings strongly, carried the momentum into the second, with Tanzim Hasan Sakib trapping Brandon King LBW and Nahid Rana pinning Evin Lewis on the pads.
West Indies found themselves at 27 for 2 in the ninth over, needing to rebuild.
Hope and Keacy Carty added 67 for the third wicket in 13.3 overs before Carty’s dismissal off Rishad Hossain brought more tension.
With the asking rate creeping toward eight runs per over, Hope helped himself to his 26th ODI fifty.
But the innings needed acceleration, and it came when Hope launched Mehidy Hasan Miraz for a six.
Rutherford then exploded into action, hitting Miraz for a four and a six in the 32nd over, followed by another boundary off Taskin Ahmed.
He brought up his half-century off just 48 balls, a blistering knock that revitalized the chase.
Even after Hope was dismissed for 86, Rutherford kept the pressure on, needing only 29 balls for his second fifty.
His attacking spree included two sixes off Taskin Ahmed.
Rutherford brought up his maiden ODI century in the 47th over, marked by an overthrow that cost Bangladesh six runs.
He celebrated with two more sixes off Soumya Sarkar, finishing with eight sixes in total before falling off the next delivery.
West Indies, however, needed just six runs to win, which they achieved with 14 balls to spare, thanks to Justin Greaves’ unbeaten 41.
Despite Bangladesh’s strong total, built on Tanzid Hasan’s 60 off 60 and a solid 79-run partnership between Tanzid and Miraz (74 off 101), it was ultimately not enough.
Miraz’s dismissal in the 38th over left Bangladesh reliant on Mahmudullah and Jaker Ali to finish strong.
The pair added 96 runs in just 12.3 overs, including six sixes.
Mahmudullah finished with an unbeaten 50 off 44 balls, while Jaker was dismissed for 48 off the penultimate ball.
However, their efforts were in vain as West Indies cruised to victory.
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