West Indies completely lost their way after Shai Hope had set them up for a really substantial total against Bangladesh at Castle Avenue in Dublin on Tuesday. Hope got his second successive century, but his side slipped from 205 for 2 in the 41st over to finish on 261 for 9 in 50 overs. Mashrafe Mortaza bowled three wonderful spells to finish with 3 for 49, while Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan applied the brakes in the middle overs to keep things in check. Hope started his innings where he left off in the Ireland game – the tri-series opener – in which he made 170. He began by stylishly flicking the first ball of the match from Mohammad Saifuddin, before sending him through the covers off the third ball. He struck Mashrafe and Mustafizur Rahman for five more fours before reaching 2,000 ODI runs in the 22nd over. He got a slice of luck immediately after, as an intended swing over midwicket caught the outside edge and went just past wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim for four.
The opener’s next big hit came in the 34th over when he top-edged a pull off Mustafizur for his first six. He reached his century — his fourth in eight innings — in the 39th over, hitting Saifuddin off the back foot through the covers. But despite adding 115 runs for the third wicket, Hope and Roston Chase (51) were largely tied down by Shakib and Mehidy, who had combined figures of 2 for 71 in 20 overs. Spin, in fact, brought Bangladesh their first success when Mahmudullah caught Sunil Ambris at cover, diving to his left, off Mehidy. Ambris, who made 38 off 50 balls with four boundaries, was involved in an 89-run opening stand with Hope; Ambris was promoted after John Campbell went out with a sore back.
An over after Ambris’ dismissal, Shakib had Darren Bravo caught behind as West Indies went into a shell against the spinners. Hope and Chase added 115 runs for the third wicket but took up 23.3 overs to do so. When he was on 20, Chase even survived a close call, Mushfiqur dropping him off Shakib, but while he made 51, he played out 61 balls to hit his two fours and a slog-swept six. Mashrafe removed Chase in the 41st over, before adding the scalps of Hope and Jason Holder to his kitty in the 43rd over. Hope was caught at cover while Holder edged to Mushfiqur.
Debutant Shane Dowrich was next to go, top-edging a pull off Saifuddin before Jonathan Carter, after scratching around for 16 balls, holed out to Shakib at long-on, who took a superb catch diving to his left. West Indies didn’t hit a single boundary in the last 2.4 overs, as Saifuddin’s mix of full balls and slower short balls held them back. Mustafizur, however, had a horror day, conceding 84 runs for his two wickets in ten overs.