BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Opener Imrul Kayes produced an early blitz and Sabbir Rahman unveiled a late one, as Bangladesh chased down a moderate total to beat West Indies High Performance Centre in the opening Twenty20 of the two-match series here yesterday.
In pursuit of 151 for victory, Bangladesh A romped to their target off just 16.4 overs, with Man-of-the-Match Imrul stroking exactly 50 off 21 balls and Sabbir getting an unbeaten 41 from 34 balls.
Off-spinner Ashley Nurse finished with two for 32 while seamer Carlos Brathwaite picked up two for 38.
Earlier, out-of-favour West Indies T20 opener Andre Fletcher top scored with 57 and all-rounder Russell smashed 48, as the HPC recovered from a poor start to reach their eventual total.
With wickets tumbling around him, the right-handed Fletcher anchored the innings, facing 43 balls and counting seven fours. His innings was especially needed after seamers Shafiul Islam (3-22) and Robiul Islam (2-33), destroyed the top order to reduce the HPC to 56 for five in the tenth over.
Fletcher then combined with Russell in a rousing 75-run, sixth wicket stand which rallied the innings and gave HPC a total which they could defend.
