ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Travis Dowlin stroked a memorable, maiden century but Bangladesh produced a spirited batting display to turn the tables on West Indies and win the second One-Day International by four wickets with an over to spare here yesterday.
Chasing West Indies’ competitive 274 for six off their allotted 50 overs, Bangladesh were propelled by brilliant half-centuries from captain Shakib Al Hasan and the experienced Mohammad Ashraful to reach 276 for six off 49 overs and grab a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Shakib slammed 65 from 61 balls with two fours and a six while Ashraful played a measured 64 from 77 balls comprising three fours and a six, to put the Tigers in sight of victory with a crucial 74-run, fourth-wicket partnership off just 63 balls.
When both were out with Bangladesh still needing 37 runs from 41 balls, 20-year-old wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim fashioned a busy 31 from 30 balls with four fours, as Bangladesh completed their highest-ever ODI run chase.
West Indies were undone by the absence of key strike bowler Kemar Roach who was limited to 7.5 overs after being disqualified from bowling in the 43rd over for sending down his second full toss above waist height.
It meant wicketkeeper Devon Thomas, on international debut, was forced to shed his gloves and send down his unpracticed medium pace, claiming two for 11 from his seven balls.
Before things fell apart, it earlier appeared as if West Indies were on course for victory, especially after Dowlin’s century and several late cameos which gave the innings impetus.
Playing only his second ODI as a member of the makeshift team, the right-handed Dowlin finished with an unbeaten even hundred after the Windies won the toss and batted at the Windsor Park Stadium.
The experienced Guyanese batsman assumed the responsibility for the innings after the West Indies found themselves struggling at 134 for four in the 33rd over, tied down by accurate Bangladeshi bowling.
He reached his half-century off 88 balls with just a single four but then exploded to notch his second fifty off a mere 29 balls, finishing with six fours and a six, to accelerate the West Indies scoring.
Dowlin, who had missed out on a century in the recent second Test with 95, found allies in Dave Bernard Jr (22), Rawl Lewis (22) and then Darren Sammy (24 not out) as he rallied an innings that seemed headed for decline.
He shared a measured 47 off 51 balls for the fifth wicket with Bernard but his frenetic 64-run, sixth wicket stand with Lewis off just 40 balls, knocked the wind out of Bangladesh.
Lewis slammed two sixes in his 22 off 19 balls, forming the foundation of a run-spree that yielded 98 runs from the last 10 overs of the innings.
When he was bowled by left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak in the 48th over, Sammy pummeled his 24 off 11 balls in adding a whirlwind 29 off 15 balls, helping Dowlin to three figures in the process.
Openers Andre Fletcher (22) and Dale Richards (20) had earlier posted 33 from 31 balls for the first wicket to give the Windies a lively start.
Fletcher was the first to fall, caught at cover off the first ball of left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan’s first over and Richards was then run out in a bad mix up with Devon Smith, to depart at 52 for two in the 11th over.
Smith, who hammered 44 from 62 balls, partnered with Dowlin in a positive 66-run stand for the third wicket before Smith also fell by the run out route attempting a second run in the 29th over.
Captain Floyd Reifer’s miserable form continued when he scooped a wide ball to point to fall for seven in the 33rd over before Dowling took matters into his own hands.
Tamim Iqbal (29) and Junaid Siddique (23) added 46 to give the Tigers a solid start to their run chase before both fell in the space of 30 balls, to leave their side 64 for two in the 14th over.
Siddique held out to Roach in the deep off medium pacer Bernard before the livewire Jamaican returned to take an astonishing one-handed catch at cover, jumping full stretch to his left to account for Tamim off Roach.
Ashraful and Raqibul Hasan (20) then posted 52 off 73 balls for the third wicket before Ashraful and Shakib took the game away from the Windies.
(Caption) Travis Dowlin celebrates his maiden one day international century in only his second one-day match. (Brooks La Touce photograph and Digicel Cricket)
