By Rajiv Bisnauth
Bangladesh youth team produced a superb all-round team effort to beat West Indies by 63 runs in the second limited overs game at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda on Wednesday to level the seven-match series 1-1. The tourists defended their total of 259, as the Windies finished on 196 for 9.
The West Indies were throttled by the spin attack of Bangladesh and never looked in the hunt after they scored just 70 runs in 24.1 overs for the second wicket.
Left arm spinner Rahuttul Ferdous Javed scalped five wickets and Jashim Uddin and Mossadek Hossain Saikat hit attractive half-centuries to emerge as the star performers for Bangladesh.
Earlier, Bangladesh skipper Mehedi Hasan Miraj won the toss and decided to bat first on a seemingly batting-friendly Bourda pitch.
Uddin’s and Saikat’s approaches were in complete contrast to their style of batting in the first game.
Both batsmen were positive while the Windies bowlers were ragged, a far cry from their first game performance.
Saikat topscored with 70, inclusive of five boundaries while Uddin, who was later adjudged Man-of-the- Match, made 63 with eight fours.
The visitors lost Joyraj Emon early as he played a loose shot and was caught behind off Jerome Jones in the third over at 15-1.
The West Indies failed to capitalise on the early breakthrough as the decision to use Barbadian fast bowling pair, Jofra Archer and Jerome Jones, did not pay off. Jones (2- 60) and Archer (2-49) were wayward, allowing Sadman Islam Anik and Jashim Uddin to get involved in an excellent partnership of 46 runs.
The West Indies U-19s made five changes from the first game on Monday with Tarryck Gabriel, Ramaal Lewis, Marquino Mindley, Ray Jordan and Alazarri Joseph, making way for Jofra Archer, Preston McSween, Bryan Charles, Jerome Jones and Shimron Hetmyer.
The hosts finally broke the partnership with the left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie dismissing the impressive Anik off his first delivery for 23, much to the relief of his teammates.
Saikat joined Uddin and the pair grew in confidence.
The shot-making improved as both batsmen used their feet well against the spinners, either coming down the track or using the crease to their advantage.
The third wicket stand came to an abrupt end though, but not before the pair scripted a 92-run partnership.
Uddin was trapped leg before by Bryan Charles.
The Bangladeshis were given another purposeful partnership between Saikat and Nazmul Hasan Shanto.
The pair displayed some sensational strokeplay at the business end of the innings and added 62 runs to put their side in the driver’s seat.
However, the Windies bowlers struck back late in the innings with four quick wickets, including Saikat, Shanto (42), Mehedi Hasan Miraj (4) and Abu Saeed Sarker (4). Spinners Bryan Charles claimed 2-40 and Motie-Kanhai completed an economical spell of 1-32 off his 10 overs.
Chasing an imposing 260-run target to win, the young Windies side lost opener Leroy Lugg (1) early as he was caught by wicketkeeper Jashim Uddin off pacer Sarker.
However, spin was the factor that caused serious trouble for the Windies batsmen as Jeremy Solozano and fellow opener Tagnarine Chanderpaul could only manage just 70 runs in 24.1 overs, which ultimately allowed the spinners to dominate proceedings.
Solozano was the more attacking of the two, hitting 44 while Chanderpaul made 25, but both batsmen were dismissed in quick succession.
At that stage, West Indies had required a further 176 runs from the last 24 overs and the pressure of scoring at almost nine runs per over got to both Tristann Coleman and Hetmyer. Both batsmen were dropped once before curtains were drawn on their short cameos of 21 runs each. Jofra Archer hit a fighting 35 at the end.
For the Bangladeshis Sarker, Miraj, Saikat, Nehad and Likhon all picked up a wicket apiece.
The third game is scheduled for Friday at the Guyana National Stadium from 13: 30h.
