Bangladesh Thumped in just 18.5 Overs

Bangladesh were bowled out for 58 – their lowest one-day total – as West Indies romped to a nine-wicket victory in the Group B game in Mirpur.

DHAKA — Fired-up West Indies skittled Bangladesh for their lowest one-day total of 58 in a key World Cup match at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium on Friday.

Lanky spinner Sulieman Benn grabbed 4-18, and fast bowlers Kemar Roach and Darren Sammy claimed three each as Bangladesh fell well short of their previous low of 74 against Australia in 2008.

Sammy’s men silenced a sell-out crowd of 25,000 by taking wickets at regular intervals after Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan won his third successive toss and chose to bat.

Bangladesh’s reckless batting on a slow wicket saw them bowled out for the lowest total in this World Cup after Kenya were shot out for 69 by New Zealand.

With one win each from two games, the match could prove crucial for both teams in the race for the quarter-finals from group B which also includes India, England, South Africa, Ireland and the Netherlands.

Bangladesh lost hard-hitting opener Tamim Iqbal off the third ball of the match when the left-hander attempted a lofty cover drive off Roach and edged a catch to Sammy at second slip.

Sammy, who handed the new ball to left-armer Benn for one over before coming on himself, forced Imrul Kayes to edge a catch to wicket-keeper Devon Thomas with his third delivery.

In his next over, Sammy removed Mushfiqur Rahim for no score, the young batsman flicking a catch to Ramnaresh Sarwan at short-midwicket.

Junaid Siddique hit a fluent 25 with four boundaries but he fell leg-before to Roach, a decision that was referred to TV umpire Asad Rauf.

Benn, who replaced Roach after the fast bowler’s five-over spell that cost just 18 runs for two wickets, bowled Shakib with his second ball.

Sammy earned another success in his sixth over, the 14th of the innings, when Raqibul Hasan drove a slower ball to point where the towering Kieron Pollard took a low catch.

Roach, replacing Sammy for his second spell, struck with his first ball when former captain Mohammad Ashraful edged a catch to the wicket-keeper after making 11.

Benn then took the last two wickets in three balls to terminate the Bangladesh innings in 18.5 overs.