Image: Bangladesh’s Miraz admitted bowling lapses cost them the game / © CricToday
After suffering a defeat against the West Indies in the first ODI of their three-match series at Warner Park, Bangladesh’s stand-in skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz cited poor middle-overs bowling as the key reason. Bangladesh initially held control by reducing the West Indies to 94-3. However, a 99-run stand between captain Shai Hope (86 off 88) and Sherfane Rutherford (113 off 80) shifted the momentum.
Rutherford’s maiden ODI century, supported by Justin Greaves’ brisk 95-run partnership, sealed a five-wicket victory for the hosts. Bangladesh’s batting saw Tanzid Hasan Tamim scoring a quick 60 off 60 balls, while Miraz managed a slower 74 off 101, drawing criticism for strike rotation. Despite reaching 294-6, their highest scorers couldn’t prevent the defeat. Talking about the defeat, Miraz said:
Yes, we were satisfied. 294 is a solid score on this pitch. Full credit to them, particularly Hope and Rutherford, for their partnership today. It was a challenging day for our bowlers. In cricket, such things happen. The wicket was good, and they capitalized on it. We will learn from our mistakes and aim to improve in the upcoming matches. We’ve got two more games to play, and I believe we still have a good chance.
Miraz expressed satisfaction with the total but emphasized the need to improve. West Indies captain Shai Hope praised Rutherford’s growth and highlighted the team’s determination to end their 11-game losing streak against Bangladesh.