By Tony Cozier
At the ICC World Cup
In DHAKA
There was an utter ruthlessness about the West Indies humiliation of feeble Bangladesh here yesterday rarely witnessed in their recent times of decline.
Their clinical demolition of the home team’s batting in 18.2 overs for the fourth lowest total in World Cup history bore the unmistakeable stamp of retribution for their recent demotion below them on the International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI rankings.
It was an anomaly they set out to put right. Darren Sammy, who had his best day as captain, stated afterwards that Chris Gayle’s strong words to the team in the dressing room before play had the effect of generating the energy on the field.
It was an instructive revelation about the role of the man Sammy had replaced.
Sammy’s own contribution, with ball and tactics, was equally telling.
There was a bitter aftermath to the Bangladeshis’ capitulation. It so enraged their expectant home supporters that they stoned West Indies’ team bus, supposedly mistaken for their beaten opponents’, as it left the Sher Bangla National Stadium in the Dhaka suburb of Mirpur (SEE accompanying story).
Over 30,000 inside had already vented their feelings by cat-calling, throwing missiles onto the field and streaming out of the stands well before the end.
West Indiesmedia manager Philip Spooner reported that players, management and support staff were shaken by bus incident but none was injured.
It is just over a year and a half since a terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team bus prior to a day’s Test cricket in Karachi, Pakistan, left some players seriously injured.
Chris Gayle, expressing fierce anger in his tweeter account on the internet, raised the obvious question of what if there were bullets aimed at the bus instead of rocks.
It was a point the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) was certain to raise with the ICC and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) after considering reports from team manager Richie Richardson.
No team is likely to be comfortable now unless security is appreciably enhanced for the three more group matches and two quarter-finals remain in Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh players won’t feel comfortable either unless they can make something of their three remaining matches – against England, the Netherlands and South Africa. They need to win two to advance from the group to the knockout, quarter-final stage – and that seems highly unlikely.
The West Indies are not there yet. They still have Ireland, England and India ahead but one more win should be enough to do the trick.
Bangladesh were obliterated yesterday by a combination of their opponents’ fierce determination and their own ineptitude.
Only three bowlers were required to finish them off.
Kemar Roach, once more fast and incisive, claimed his customary early wicket by removing the batting linchpin, left-hander Tamim Iqbal, third ball. Against South Africa, he struck with his ninth, against the Netherlands with his fourth.
He added another two victims, boosting his tally to 10 for the tournament.
Sulieman Benn conceded nine runs in a wayward opening over of left-arm spin and was promptly removed. When brought back, he immediately despatched captain Shakib al-Hasan with his second ball before condemning the Bangladeshi to their shame by cleaning up the last three.
In between, Sammy snared three victims with his probing medium-pace.
Significantly, they were backed by the sure-handed catching of Sammy, Kieron Pollard and Ramnaresh Sarwan and the certain glovework of the impressive new wicket-keeper Devon Thomas.
Above all, it was the day Sammy’s cricket, and leadership, finally made an impression.
He entered the match with his captaincy increasingly questioned through his lack of performance. It was becoming an untenable situation that he effectively acknowledged at the toss, conceding that it was time he contributed.
His sharp catch at second slip to send back Tamim and wickets with his third and seventh balls clearly had the required energising impact.
His tactics were bold and imaginative, with the body language of his players broadcasting their commitment to the cause. It is not often of late that could be said of the West Indies.
When Benn leaked runs in the second over, Sammy took over himself with immediate effect.
As wickets kept tumbling, he maintained attacking fields, keen not to allow the sort of late order recovery has has often frustrated the West Indies for some time.
With half the side down, he summoned a helmet to take up position at forward short-leg for Roach. At the opposite end, he placed a slip, gully and silly point for Benn.
Tougher assignments against England and India – and possibly even the plucky Irish – lie ahead for Sammy and his team. But after yesterday, no one will regard them as No.9 on the ICC charts.
