Windies narrowly avoided a third defeat in as many Super 12 matches, but Bangladesh can no longer qualify for the semi-finals; Pooran’s 40 of 22 balls are decisive, as the goal of 143 is out of reach for Bangladesh, which closes with 139-5
Nicholas Pooran scored four sixes in a 40-on-22 inning for the West Indies against Bangladesh.
The West Indies’ defense of their T20 World Cup title lives on after a thrilling three-race win over Bangladesh in Sharjah.
The defending champs couldn’t afford another slip after losing their first two Super 12 games, but they managed to defend a total of 142-7 despite a superb 44 hit from wicketkeeper-hitter Liton Das.
Andre Russell kept his nerve on the ball, denying Bangladesh the 13 runs they needed in the final to prevent their own early exit, but the outstanding contribution from the West Indies came from Nicholas Pooran (40 on 22 balls).
The southpaw dragged his side to a respectable total with a burst of four sixes, complementing a more measured 39 from rookie T20 Roston Chase, and giving title holders a total to pitch.
Bangladesh struck early after opting to go bowling when Evin Lewis (six) skied Mustafizur Rahman from the tip of the bat and the going remained tough for the West Indies as Mahedi Hasan (2-27) slipped a pitch from around the wicket past Chris Gayle striker. push and in the middle of the stump.
The scoreboard was a miserable 28-2 late in the power play and Chase should have left shortly after just for Mahedi to have a firm shot at a comeback.
The spinner made quick amendments when Shimron Hetmyer (nine) failed in the middle and with Shakib Al Hasan (0-28) proving to be typically inexpensive despite a knee injury, Windies was well behind the rate midway. with 48-3.
Kieron Pollard failed to provide the necessary limit injection, retired ill after scoring eight, and Andre Russell was left out at the non-forward end without facing the next ball when Taskin Ahmed (0-17) deflected a direct shot from Hunt down the stumps with his boot.
Chase was given a second life at the 27th at Shakib’s bowling alley when Mahedi missed a single opportunity in deep midwicket, paving the way for a crucial partnership with Pooran.
The southpaw dropped Shakib for six straight and then pitched Mahedi for another two in the 18th, the second of which drew a 50-run tie with 33 deliveries.
The association grew to 57 before batters fell in successive deliveries to Shoriful Islam (2-20), who knocked down Chase’s leg stump after Pooran chose deep coverage.
Shoriful could have had a third five-ball wicket only for Afif Hossain to knock Holder down for cover.
Pollard returned after dropping Dwayne Bravo by just one single and saw Jason Holder (15th in five) knock Mustafizur away for six straight at the end, before finishing the innings with a high of his own.
That meant a total of 58 runs, including seven sixes, came out of the last five overs compared to 84 runs and no sixes in the first 15 overs.
Shakib, who started for his country for the first time in T20 cricket, limped at work, clearly affected by his leg injury, and made just nine before dodging Russell midway.
It was a welcome change of luck for Russell, who had let Mohammad Naim drop the ball earlier in midwicket when he was just 11.
The starter added just six more runs before dragging Holder, leading the West Indies with Pollard off the field rebounding, onto his stumps.
Soumya Sarkar (17 of 13) helped Das keep Bangladesh just ahead of the required running speed past the excess 10 mark, only to fall to a Gayle catch in the third man short off the bowling alley by Akeal Hosein.
With limits slim, the battle remained sharp with Mushfiqur Rahim looking to force the issue until he missed a scoop and lost his stump to Ravi Rampaul.
Bangladesh was left needing 44 runs of the last five overs and then 22 of two overs: Das all the time kept his head, scoring a run-a-ball, and Mahmudullah (31st of 24 balls) weighing in with timely limits including a six big and straight from Bravo.
The equation had been reduced to 13 seven-ball runs when Das tried to clear Holder at length and miss by a few inches.
It was a watershed moment as Bangladesh was unable to cross the line despite Mahmudullah being given one last life thanks to Russell’s bowling.
Live coverage of the ICC T20 World Cup continues on Sky Sports with a double title on Saturday when South Africa take on Sri Lanka starting at 10.30am, before England and Australia meet at 2.30pm.
