TAUNTON, England, CMC – Captain Jason Holder has dismissed suggestions the balance of the West Indies contributed to their seven-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in a critical fixture here Monday.
West Indies once again left out frontline spinner Ashley Nurse for the encounter and fielded five fast bowlers, a move that backfired as Bangladesh chased down a team record 322 to win with 51 balls remaining at Somerset County Ground.
They also dropped all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite and included the extra batsman in Darren Bravo who eventually batted at number eight.
“In hindsight you could sit here and ponder on a few things,” Holder told reporters here.
“The balance was not an issue [on Monday]. As I said, we didn’t execute. Execution for me today was the issue and it hurt us in the end.”
He added: “I think the quick bowlers could have done their job. If you look at their spinners, they didn’t cause much of a threat. [Shakib-al-Hasan] is the only one, I think, who got wickets. Mehedi [Hasan] struggled. We pretty much scored off him freely so no regrets there.”
West Indies were put to the sword by the peerless Shakib who stroked an unbeaten 124 off 99 deliveries, in a record 189-run, unbroken fourth wicket stand with Liton Das who belted 94 not out off 69 balls.
The partnership took the game away from West Indies after they had struck twice in quick succession to leave Bangladesh on 133 for three in the 19th over.
Shakib gained a reprieve on 55 in the 23rd over when Shannon Gabriel’s indecision at fine leg saw a possible catch go abegging, and Holder said that had been a critical moment in the game.
“I felt we missed a crucial chance there when (Andre) Russell, bowling to Shakib, and [he got] the top edge down fine leg. Shannon should have gone in and taken the catch,” Holder pointed out.
“A few top edges didn’t go our way, probably and we didn’t help ourselves in the field as well.”
Shai Hope’s top score of 96 provided the foundation for West Indies’ 321 for eight off their 50 overs, with opener Evin Lewis (70) and Shimron Hetmyer (50) also getting half-centuries.
And while Lewis and Hetmyer’s knocks came in quick time, Hope attracted some criticism for his patient innings which required 120 deliveries.
Holder praised Hope’s effort but conceded the scoring rate could have been faster.
“It was good that he went deep but probably we could have asked him to show a little bit more intent,” the all-rounder said.
“Having said that, we still were losing wickets at crucial ends of the stages. We needed one of the top four players to go through. He got down to the end but unfortunately it wasn’t enough.”
