Cricket News: WI IPL stars team up to beat Bangladesh
In a three-match T20I series, West Indies grabbed a 1-0 lead by defeating Bangladesh by 35 runs. It came following the no result in the opening fixture due to rain at the same venue
Nicholas Pooran in formFrom Rovman Powell to Obed McCoy and Nicholas Pooran, the second T20I was owned by the IPL stars in West Indies playing together.
A power show from IPL's best hitters and strikers from West Indies
Nicholas Pooran opted to put the total first on the board after winning the toss. The hosts were sent to the back foot when Bangladesh star bowlers Mahedi Hasan and Shakib Al Hasan took two quick wickets and reduced the hosts to 26/2. However, Brandon King joined with captain Nicholas Pooran who regained his form in IPL, to stabilise the inning. The duo smashed 74 off 56 before Mosaddek Hossain caught Pooran in an LBW.
The scorecard was further rocketed by IPL star Rovman Powell's blazing knock of unbeaten 61 from 28 balls. The power-hitter went berserk to accumulate runs with a strike rate of 217.85, consisting of 6 maximums and two boundaries. A cameo at the end of 11 off four from Odean Smith further took the total to 193/5.
To defend the total, another IPL finds that Obed McCoy dismissed both the openers on two consecutive balls as the visitors lingered at 8/2. After these two early departures, Shakib Al Hasan looked to bat deep. He made a valuable unbeaten 68 off 52 as Romario Shepherd took two crucial wickets in the middle order. Despite having wickets in hand, the team failed to rocket their innings to a mammoth total as they could fetch only 158 runs in 20 overs.
West Indies' positive intent for the T20 World Cup
After discovering their potential and intent in IPL, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Odeon Smith, Obed McCoy, and Romario Shepherd have been faring well in all the international fixtures. With such clinical performances and carrying forward the good form from one tournament to another, West Indies players are indeed on their way to making a statement in the upcoming World Cup.
On winning the match, Rovman Powell (Player of the game) said, "The plan is simple, get a start, get me in as I can always make it up. It was a perfect wicket; unfortunately, only two games here; I wish we had three games. A lot of credit has to go to my batting coach back home; he gave me better options against spin. Their (WI bowlers) execution was good; we did get wickets in the powerplay, getting three sets the match up perfectly in T20Is.
The teams will lock horns at Providence for the final T20I on 7th July 2022. It will be good to see if West Indies whitewashes the series by 2-0 or if Bangladesh will make a comeback to end it in a draw.