A blistering innings of 124 from Shakib al Hasan led Bangladesh to a straightforward win against West Indies. The target was 322 and Bangladesh reached it with seven wickets and 8.3 overs to spare. This was a record-breaking performance, Bangladesh’s highest successful run chase in ODI cricket and the second highest – after Ireland’s triumphant pursuit against England in Bangalore – in World Cup history.
For West Indies it was heartbreaking. Their early defeat of Pakistan raised hopes of a revival in this form of the game but since then they have been frail in body and mind. Here they tried to impose their plan A when defending a substantial total. That failed. And they did not have a plan B. The selection of their side did not permit one. They played five fast bowlers with Gayle as the only spin option. Four of the pacemen were tall right-handers inclined to bang the ball into the pitch. But this did not worry the Bangladesh batsmen a jot.
Before Shakib arrived Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar had added 52 in nine overs and then Bangladesh’s ageless all-rounder soon became the highest runscorer in the tournament. He took control from the moment he arrived at the crease. He knew what to expect and he was intuitively in position to cut and pull against bowlers who seemed to have only one tactic – to bang the ball into the pitch. Just occasionally he top-edged the hook shot but no West Indian could lay hands on the mis‑hits.
