Published on 02:03 AM, July 03, 2022

Rain hits with Tigers at 60/4 after 7.4 overs

Shakib Al Hasan hit two sixes and as many fours as he scored 29 runs off just 15 balls in the first T20I against the West Indies in Dominica. Photo: AFP

Bangladesh made a blistering start after being asked to bat by the West Indies, but their fast start was slowing down when rain interrupted the first T20I in Dominica with the visitors batting on 60 for four.

The toss was delayed by over an hour and a half due to inclement weather. As a result, the game was curtailed to 16 overs per side.

Anamul Haque and Munim Shahriar opened the innings for Bangladesh, but the latter departed just three balls into the match, edging a delivery that turned slightly through to the wicketkeeper, sending the 24-year-old back for just two.

Anamul Haque then announced his comeback to the T20I format, which he had not played in for over seven years, cutting away the first ball he faced, the last of the opening over, for a boundary. He then dispatched his second delivery, the second ball of the following over, for another boundary.

Shakib Al Hasan, coming in at number three, was very much the aggressor during his stay. His blistering 15-ball 29 featured two maximums and as many fours.

Anamul became the second Bangladeshi wicket to fall in the fourth over. He first got a thick edge off Obed McCoy that raced away for four. However, he was dismissed off the third delivery of the over, failing to get any bat on the ball and being trapped leg before.

That brought Liton Das to the crease and he also showed clear intent, attacking the second ball that he faced and lashing it away for a boundary. But Bangladesh could then manage only six runs from the fifth over, the last of the Powerplay, as Liton put away a free hit for four and Bangladesh reached 47 for two after five overs.

Shakib then hit the first ball of the sixth over for a maximum, ensuring Bangladesh's run-rate would not drop below the nine-run mark in that over either.

However, Liton departed off the second ball of the next over bowled by Romario Shepherd, trying to pull a short ball but only managing to loft it straight into the air for a simple catch. That over was also the most economical of the game to that point as Shepherd conceded just three runs.

Bangladesh's run-rate had hit eight when Shakib Al Hasan went chasing a wider delivery off the spin of Hayden Walsh Jr, edging behind to the wicketkeeper as Bangladesh were reduced to 60 for four after 7.3 overs. Rain hit just one ball later and the game was delayed.