Sarwan powers Windies
Dailystarnews.com

Ramnaresh Sarwan scored his maiden hundred to power the West Indies to a comprehensive 84-run victory over the hosts Bangladesh in the second one-dayer of the Coca-Cola Series at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

The 22-year-old batsman from Guyana, later adjudged man of the match, struck an unbeaten 102, helping the visitors recover from a sluggish start to pile up a commanding 266 for four.

The home side was shot out for 182 in 48 overs with only Mohammad Ashraful showing real character on a wicket that was keeping low and slow.

The young sensation scored an authoritative 44 before slashing leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo to Wavell Hinds at point.

The only entertainer for the 20,000 home crowd in the day-night affair, Ashraful won his second battle with fast bowler Jermaine Lawson, who conceded 20 runs in two overs before being taken off the attack.

Ashraful helped himself to 16 runs from the two-over blitz that featured a glorious cover drive and an exquisite on-drive for four.

Captain Khaled Mashud fought a lost battle with 41 and Naimur Rahman added 37 after the home side collapsed to 94 for six.

West Indies took a 1-0 lead going into the third and final game at the same venue today. The first match in Chittagong was washed out.

Sarwan and Marlon Samuels led the West Indian fightback after their explosive opening pair of Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds failed for the second successive match. The young guns added 140 runs for the third wicket after Hinds fell for a duck in the second over and Gayle was dismissed for 21.

Playing his 28th ODI, Sarwan celebrated his finest moment when he edged the last ball of the innings for four down to the third man boundary.

The stylish right-hander instantly punched the air after reaching the cherished three figures. It also brought up his first hundred in either version of the game.

Sarwan's previous best was 99 not out against India in the recent one-day series. He struck 11 fours in his 119-ball knock at the crease.

Samuels, on the other hand, mixed elegance with raw power to score a 119-ball 82. The Jamaican right-hander smashed seven fours and two massive sixes before being foxed by a full toss from off-spinner Naimur Rahman.

Dropped on 14 by Ehsanul Haque at cover, Samuels locked into an argument with left-arm spinner Mohammed Rafique after adding 13 runs to his total. He was responding to Sarwan's call for a single, but stopped after colliding with Rafique. Although Mashud claimed a run out, England umpire David Shepherd referred the incident to the third umpire, who later gave the batsman the benefit of doubt.

Ricardo Powel, who hammered a hurricane 80 off 51 balls in Chittagong, failed to produce the fireworks this time. The powerful right-hander made only 10 before becoming the first wicket of debutant slow medium pacer Ehsanul Haque.

For Bangladesh the new-ball pair of Monjurul Islam and Taposh Baishya once again bowled their hearts out. Left-arm paceman Monjurul bowled his ten overs without any break to finish with one for 20.

Young right-arm seamer Taposh also took one wicket giving away 42 runs in his 10 overs.

Opening batsman Al-Shahriar and Habibul Bashar carried their bad form from Chittagong when they were dismissed for first-ball ducks.

Al-Shahriar drove the first ball of the innings but missed the line completely only to see his middle stump uprooted. Bashar was clean bowled by a yorker from right-arm paceman Vasbert Drakes, who started his demolition job from where he had left off in the port city.

Drakes made it eight wickets in two matches with a career-best 4-18 in nine overs last night.

(c) Dailystarnews.com

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