|
13/09/2007 15:44
Johannesburg - Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful has led his team to an easy six-wicket win over West Indies on Thursday to knock their opponents out of the Twenty20 World Cup.
Ashraful hit 61 in 27 balls and shared a third-wicket partnership of 109 with Aftab Ahmed, who scored 62 off 49 balls and guided Bangladesh to its victory total of 165 for four wickets.
While the West Indies have also lost to South Africa and will leave the inaugural tournament, Bangladesh and the Proteas will advance to the Super Eight stage.
Bangladesh won the toss and send the West Indies in to bat at the Wanderers, although the start of play was delayed an hour because it had to dry after being overwatered overnight.
The score kept on ticking over
Opener Chris Gayle went for nought in the first over, just two days after becoming the first batsman to score a Twenty20 international century, caught by Alok Kapali off the bowling of Syed Rasel.
The batsmen always struggled with the pace of the pitch and it was only the steady batting of Devon Smith, who scored 51 off 52 balls, which kept the score ticking over.
Marlon Samuels contributed 27 off 14 balls and Dwayne Smith 29 off seven.
The West Indies middle order struggled against the spin and Shakib Al Hasan took four wickets for 34 with his slow left-arm orthodox bowling.
Ashraful hit fastest ever T20 half-century
Bangladesh started slowly but accelerated with the arrival of Aftab Ahmed after the first wicket fell in the second over.
When Ashraful came in, he immediately set about the West Indies bowling and he hit seven fours and three sixes as he reached 50 in 20 balls for the fastest ever Twenty20 half-century.
When he departed, caught by Gayle off the bowling of Ramnaresh Sarwan, Aftab shepherded his side past West Indies' 164-8 with two overs to spare.
Complete scorecard.
|
