Taijul’s maiden fifer helps Bangladesh restrict Windies to 178

Nicholas Pooran played a captain's knock as the the West Indies fared much better with the bat compared to the previous two matches in the series but it was Bangladesh's Taijul Islam who stole the spotlight in the dead rubber ODI at the Providence Stadium in Guyana today.

The home side, desperate to avoid their 11th consecutive ODI defeat against the Tigers, rode on Pooran's 73 off 109 balls to post 178 all out in 48.4 overs. The Windies skipper struck four boundaries and two sixes and was pacing his innings well but eventually the pressure of frequently losing partners from the other end weighed heavily on his departure.  

Pooran in action. Photo: AFP

Bangladesh, who won the toss and chose to bowl first, opted to play an extra spinner in Taijul and it paid dividends for the visitors as the experienced left-arm spinner, who is a regular in Tests, made the most of his inclusion by bagging his maiden five-wicket haul while, on the way, causing the key dismissals of Pooran, Rovman Powell and two the openers. The 30-year-old bowled two maiden overs as well and conceded 28 runs in his full quota of 10 overs.   

Tamim and Taijul in discussion. Photo: AFP

Except Mehedi Hasan Miraz, all Bangladesh bowlers kept the run-rate tight, with Mustafizur Rahman and Nasum Ahmed grabbing two wickets while Mosaddek Hossain scalping one. For West Indies, rookie batter Kacey Carter (33) and Powell (18) could reach double figures, Pooran aside, but threw their wickets away. In the end, Windies' last-wicket stand frustrated the Tigers again as Alzarri Joseph and Romario Shepherd tallied 25 runs.