‘Poor bowling in middle overs cost us the game’

BSS, Dhaka :

Bangladesh stand-in captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz reasoned that the poor bowling in the middle overs led to their five-wicket defeat to West Indies in three-match series opening game on Sunday at the Warner Park in St Kitts.

Bangladesh failed to curb the aggression of Sherfane Rutherford and West Indies skipper Shai Hope who shared a 99-run partnership to set the platform of gunning down their 294-6. Before their partnership, Bangladesh were in control of the match, reducing West Indies to 94-3.

“We started really well, especially Nahid, Taskin and Tanzim bowled really well,” Miraz said after the match. “But after that we didn’t bowl well in the middle overs, we didn’t get wickets.”

Shai Hope was out on 88 ball-86 but Rutherford got another ably support in Justin Greaves as the duo further hammered Bangladesh bowlers to add 57 ball-95 runs for the fifth wicket to take the side closer to the victory.

Rutherford was dismissed after scoring his maiden century as he blasted 80 ball-113. Greaves completed the inevitable as West Indies snapped Bangladesh’s 11-match winning streak against them.