Windies lose warm-up behind Tamim, Sarkar centuries

Stroke-maker Shai Hope … top-scored with 81.
Stroke-maker Shai Hope … top-scored with 81.

DHAKA, Bangladesh, CMC – Hundreds by Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar trumped half-centuries from Shai Hope and Roston Chase, as West Indies lost their tour match by 51 runs under Duckworth-Lewis-Stern here yesterday.

Defending an impressive 332 at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan No 3 Ground, West Indies found themselves put to the sword by Tamim who struck 107 and Sarkar, who made an unbeaten 103, as the Board XI raced to 314 for six at the end of the 41st over.

Fading light then forced players from the field with the hosts ahead of the DLS par score.

Earlier opting to bat, the Windies produced an encouraging display to reach 331 for eight off their 50 overs, with the stylish Hope carving out a top score of 81 and Chase chipping in with 65.

Rookie Fabian Allen struck 48 and opener Kieran Powell, 43, while in-form left-hander Shimron Hetmyer hit 33 and the returning Darren Bravo, 24.

 Hope and Powell gave the tourists a rollicking start, posting 101 from 92 balls to dominate the early stages of the encounter.

While the right-handed Hope counted six fours and three sixes in an 84-ball knock, Powell was more patient in his 49-ball stay at the crease striking three fours and a six.

Powell fell in the 16th over but Hope found an ally in Bravo to add 58 for the second wicket, the experienced left-hander facing 33 deliveries and hitting three fours.

Both fell within the space of 20 balls, however, prompting a slide which saw four wickets tumble for 17 runs, leaving the Windies on 176 for five in the 32nd over.

The innings was then lifted through key partnerships. First, Chase anchored a 39-run sixth wicket stand with Hetmyer, who lashed a couple of fours and sixes in a 26-ball cameo.

Then, Chase paired with Allen to add 78 for the seventh wicket, a partnership which put the Windies within touching distance of the 300-run mark.

Chase faced 51 balls and struck six fours and a six while Allen needed just 32 balls as he belted eight fours and six.

At the end, Chase and Sunil Ambris (10 not out) added a quick-fire 35 off 15 deliveries to give the innings a rousing finish.

The BCB XI rattled the Windies early as Tamim and Imrul Kayes (27) put on 81 from a mere 54 deliveries to take control of the match. Tamim, who missed the Test series through injury, showed no signs of lack of fitness as he slammed 13 fours and four sixes off 73 balls.

He added a further 114 for the second wicket with Sarkar who clobbered seven fours and six sixes in an 83-ball innings.

When Chase (2-57) had Tamim stumped in the 23rd over, Bangladesh lost five wickets for 70 runs but Sarkar and Mashrafe Mortaza (22 not out) added 49 off 35 balls in an unbroken seventh wicket stand, to make their side safe.