Rishad's six-fer condemns WI to big loss

Rishad Hossain's all-round show helped Bangladesh secure a comfortable 74-run victory in a low-scoring opening ODI in Dhaka on Saturday (October 18). On a pitch where stroke-making proved difficult, Bangladesh posted a challenging 207, with Rishad playing a key role with a cameo of 26 late in the innings. The legspinner then picked up a career-best 6 for 35, his maiden five-wicket haul as West Indies lost their way after a good start to fold for 133.

After being asked to bat, Bangladesh lost their openers early. Saif Hasan was trapped lbw by Romario Shepherd, while Jayden Seales had Soumya Sarkar caught at backward point. A watchful partnership between Towhid Hridoy and Najmul Hossain Shanto followed, but West Indies' disciplined bowling and a tricky pitch made boundary scoring difficult. From 33/2 after 10 overs, Bangladesh struggled to accelerate, going without a boundary for 69 deliveries until the third-wicket pair managed a four apiece off Gudakesh Motie. Najmul, however, fell soon after, trapped lbw by Khary Pierre.

Hridoy and Mahidul Islam Ankon tried to steady the innings, but the partnership was also slow going. Hridoy reached a patient 50 off 87 balls before being caught behind off Justin Greaves, and Bangladesh endured another boundary-less stretch of 82 deliveries. Mahidul finally found the fence a couple of times, but by the 40th over, Bangladesh were 140/4 and looking short of a competitive total. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mahidul added a few more boundaries, yet wickets fell in quick succession, leaving the score at 168/6 after 46 overs. Rishad Hossain provided a late surge, striking two sixes and a four in his 13-ball 26, helping Bangladesh cross the 200-run mark before being bowled out.

Taskin Ahmed and Tanvir Islam began with a maiden apiece before the openers got West Indies going in the chase. Brandon King struck a four and a six off Taskin while Alick Athanaze hit three fours and a six off Tanvir in an 18-run fourth over. Bangladesh then did well to slow things down as West Indies, who were 33/0 after five overs, got only 16 more in the next six. The openers raised a half-century stand but Athanaze fell soon after, lbw to Rishad. King continued to hit timely boundaries but Keacy Carty struggled to get going and was eventually dismissed by Rishad for a 30-ball 9, leaving West Indies at 79/2 after 20 overs.

It became four down a couple of overs later as Rishad continued to make an impact, dismissing both King and Sherfane Rutherford in the same over. He bagged his fifth with the scalp of Roston Chase, with the legspinner single-handedly dismantling the West Indies' batting order. Mehidy then came to the party as well, getting Motie trapped in front while Shai Hope was caught behind off Tanvir as West Indies slipped to 118/7. Mustafizur Rahman then picked up the wickets of Shepherd and Greaves before Rishad returned and bagged the final wicket, that of Seales, to finish with a six-wicket haul.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 207 in 49.4 overs (Towhid Hridoy 51, Mahidul Islam Ankon 46; Jayden Seales 3-48, Roston Chase 2-30) beat West Indies 133 in 39 overs (Brandon King 44, Alick Athanaze 27; Rishad Hossain 6-35, Mustafizur Rahman 2-16) by 74 runs.