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Smith shines and Windies go 2-0

Monday, May 17 2004

A month ago you'd never have expected to say it, but sure enough, a mature and cool batting performance from Dwayne Smith coupled with some brilliant fielding, saw the West Indies go 2-0 up on the Bangladeshi tourists today. His innings of 62 came off 62 balls (2 fours, 2 sixes) provided the only real impetus of the West Indies innings of 124/7, after rain meant that the game was shortened to a 25-over affair.

The Bangladesh bowlers were once more disciplined and Gayle (7) and Powell (20) never looked to settle completely on a tough surface for strokeplay. Ultimately both batsmen perished via the same route, caught at midwicket. Dwayne Smith was promoted to the number three position and, unlike the Dwayne Smith of old, played every ball on its merit in rotating the strike wisely and only attempting the big shots to select deliveries.

Chanderpaul (10) and Sarwan (18) were really the only other evidence of resistance during Smith's stay at the crease, and the West Indies managed to settle at just under 5 runs per over - 124/7. Tapash Baisya was definitely the pick of the bowlers, with his accurate line and length mixed with a clever variety of slower balls. He ended with 5-1-16-4.

Looking at a very much gettable total, Bangladesh started with a new pair of openers, their quick collapse in the 1st ODI still fresh in memory. This would not keep out the sprightly Edwards though. The young Bajan pacer saw Mohammad Ashraful (0)brilliantly held by Dwayne Smith with the second ball of his second over. Habibul Bashar, still blushing from yesterday's first baller, got off the mark immediately with a couple of runs, but was out to Edwards without a run more - caught behind for 2.

Things would not improve for the young Test nation, Rajin Saleh (1) and Alok Kapali (1) out to Bradshaw and Best respectively - 21 for 4. In all the chaos of wickets, opener Hannan Sarkar stood firm and added 18 with his new partner Mushfiqur Rahamn (8), then 32 with Manjural Islam Rana. Sarkar was finally out to another fine catch by Dwayne Smith, Bradshaw the bowler this time.

Manjural Islam Rana (33 not out) tried his utmost best to get the score rolling, but the required rate continued to climb and wickets lost. Finally the innings ended with the close of the 25th over, Bangladesh 101/8 and a relatively easy win for the West Indies in the end.

The were certainly no arguments when the Man of the Match award was presented to Dwayne Smith.

Match Summary:

West Indies innings 124/7 (25 overs)
(DR Smith 62 not out [62])
(Tapash Baisya 4/16 [5])

Bangladesh innings 101/8 (25 overs)
(Hannan Sarkar 36 [55], Manjural Islam Rana 33 not out [43])
(IDR Bradshaw 3/15 [5], FH Edwards 2/19 [5], DDJ Bravo 2/23 [5])

Result: West Indies won by 23 runs
Series: West Indies lead 3-game series 2-0
Man of the Match: DR Smith (WI)

Posted by Liam