Bangladesh's best far from enough
Dailystarnews.com

Marlon Samuels scored a back-to-back half-century while Vasbert Drakes continued to be clinical with the ball as the West Indies wrapped up the Coca-Cola one-day series 2-0 with an 86-run win at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

The first game of the three-match series in Chittagong was abandoned due to rain. Samuels hammered 77 off 101 balls and opener Chris Gayle returned to his belligerent best after a two-match low, scoring 73, as the Caribbeans, batting first for the second successive day, amassed 281 for five in 50 overs.

The home side, in their chase of yet another demanding total, could only manage 190 for the loss of nine wickets.
It was the highest total for Bangladesh against the West Indies in the series and the hosts owed a lot to Alok Kapali for a swashbuckling 89 not out.

Two changes made a little difference to the brittle Bangladeshi top order, as Drakes ripped through with a fiery four-wicket first spell to reduce the hosts to 42 for four in 17 overs.

Drakes, who bagged four wickets each in the first two games, was later adjudged the man of the match and the series.

Drakes stunned the home crowd into silence when he removed Mohammed Ashraful for only one.

A lot was expected from the talented teenager after an enterprising 44 on Monday. However, he was deceived by a slower one from Drakes and offered a simple catch to Wavell Hinds at mid-on.

Although Ashraful failed, his academy mate Anwar Hossain rose to the occasion on debut.

The 19-year-old playing his first match as an opener scored a polished 42 off 106 balls that included half a dozen fours.

But it was Alok Kapali who stole the show with a career-best 89 off 93 balls. The previous best of the 19-year-old all-rounder was 45 against South Africa. The young right-hander entertained the holiday crowd with ten glorious boundaries.

Kapali's effort in a desperate situation was also the highest of the match. He shared 67 runs for the fifth wicket with Anwar and 42 for the sixth with skipper Khaled Mashud, who scored 16 before being bowled by Gayle.

The lanky Jamaican enjoyed a fruitful day both with bat and ball. He followed up his 14th half century with three scalps in his 62nd one-day appearance.

Gayle showed glimpses of his terrific form in India, where he scored three hundreds, with 11 hits across the rope before being caught behind while trying to cut occasional off-spinner Sanwar Hossain.

He shared 110 runs for the second wicket with Samuels after his opening partner Hinds was yorked by Taposh.

Samuels followed up his 82 in the second one-dayer with a typically aggressive 77. It was his ninth half century in 39 ODIs.

The powerfully-built Jamaican right-hander struck four boundaries and two mighty sixes before being bowled by Rafique.

Ramnaresh Sarwan, who scored his maiden ton on Monday night, looked impressive with 28 before being holed out in the deep off off-spinner Naimur Rahman.

Naimur continued his good run of form with ball, conceding only 32 runs in his 10 overs.

Left-arm paceman Monjurul Islam bite the dust after two good outings. The experienced bowler went for 77 runs in 10 overs without any success.

Both teams will enjoy a short break before the first Test starts at the same venue on December 8.

(c) Dailystarnews.com

Best viewed with 800x640/Internet Explorer resolution