West Indies Clinch T20I Series against Bangladesh

BY: KAYLA KARIM

The West Indies 190 beat Bangladesh 140 by 50 runs to clinch the T20I series.

After about three months of playing their shortest and arguably their most favourite format of cricket in India and Bangladesh, the West Indies had some hardware to take home.

The series was tied at 1 when 26-year-old Evin Lewis’ 36-ball 89 to post 190 followed by Bangladesh’s openers taking charge. There were then two no-ball calls that had the West Indies fired up.

Bangladesh went 65 for 1 in the fifth over and eventually lost 7 for 31 to fold for 140 in 17 overs.  A twenty-year-old fast bowler for the West Indies, Keemo Paul showed off with a career-best 5 of 15.

In the fourth over, there was a no-ball call, which Carlos Brathwaite argued against and on-field umpire; Tanvir Ahmed called the no-balls off Oshane Thomas. This collapse happened on the back of an eight-minute passage and the play was stopped.

Brathwaite did not hold back when chatting with referee Jeff Crowe. Assistant coach, Mushtaq Ahmed also intervened and the match continued shortly after.

Thomas recorded 30 off that over bowling nine balls including three sixes and two fours. Lewis had a great start earlier in the evening hammering Abu Hider for 27 runs in the third over, with the first three balls being consecutive sixes. He finished the over with a fourth six. Lewis was on pace for recording the fastest T20I century striking for two more sixes but Mahamudullah quickly ended that chance bowling him in the 10^th over. Rovman Powell and Nicholas Pooran continued to improve West Indies success with 37 runs for the fifth wicket.

Carlos Brathwaite said that he was “prepared to risk sanctions” for protesting against the call and holding up play for eight minutes. His strong and animated response came after a controversial no ball call off teammate Oshane Thomas.  Bangladesh had a 191 chase in the fourth over when Thomas was falsely pulled up for overstepping by on-field umpire Tanvir Ahmed. 

West Indies wanted a further review for the on-field call after Linton Das failed to strike the ball to mid-off. Match referee, Jeff Crowe refused the replay and said that they could not opt for it, further confirming the call.

Brathwaite shared at the post-game press conference, “sanctions may come and go, but if you don’t stand for something, you fall for everything. If the sanctions are to be handed, I would gladly take it. My team-mates need to be stood up for and as the captain of the ship, I will stand up for them.”

This issue didn’t surface only in the final match. Brathwaite felt that the calls were unfair in several series prior.

“I went to the match referee after the second game. I didn’t think the 50-50 decisions were going in our favor,” Brathwaite said. “Those decisions went for Bangladesh. I never ever want to accuse someone of cheating. I will stop short of that. They are professionals as well. I don’t think they would go out there to be biased or, for lack of a better word, cheat.”

“I didn’t accuse them of cheating, but I made my point clear to the match referee that every 50-50 decision in the ODI series and T20I series up to that point went against us. Traditionally, we haven’t played the best cricket, whether red or white ball. But I found that every time I have been playing for the West Indies, the decisions have hampered us. It happened earlier in the fourth over, so a point needed to be made.”

Brathwaite shared that he asked Crowe about reviewing laws when he was taking a stand for his team. He did commend the referee however saying that after some stern words he asked the referee for him and his team to regroup, which was granted, and the issue was resolved.

The debate about laws has been ongoing and with Brathwaite making the third umpire check each delivery for a no-ball, the incident has reopened the conversation.

England visits in the Tour of West Indies. The 5-day series starts on January 23^rd, 2019 at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados.