West Indies Spark Joy With Thrilling Five-Wicket Win

West Indies registered a thrilling five-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first One-Day International (ODI) of the three-match series, ending their 11-match losing streak against the Asian team. Sherfane Rutherford, making his maiden ODI century, was the star of the show, scoring a remarkable 113 runs off 80 balls, becoming the highest scorer by a West Indies batter at this venue.

Rutherford's impressive knock, marked by 7 fours and 8 sixes, took off once he settled, taking charge as West Indies fought back after a slow start to chase Bangladesh's total of 294/6 in 50 overs. The tourists were given a strong foundation by Rutherford and his captain Shai Hope, who scored 86 runs, just shy of his century. Their 99-run partnership laid the base for the momentum shift, while Rutherford's rapid scoring helped reach the target with five overs and five wickets to spare. This 5-wicket win in pursuit of 295 is one of West Indies' highest chases at this venue.

Tanzid Hasan (60) and Mehidy Hasan (74) starred for the home team, contributing significantly, especially in the comeback stage when Bangladesh found themselves at 27/2. Their significant partnerships, however, were unable to save the match for Bangladesh, who themselves began strongly with the ball, controlling the scoreboard through to 25 overs before West Indies gained momentum pushes back. By contrast, their batting responded well initially but eventually lost ground as West Indies defenders applied the pressure.

In summary, despite a strong start by Bangladesh, the exceptional form of Sherfane Rutherford with his first-ever ODI century has led to a spirited win for West Indies, indicating that the series is far from over with two matches left to be played.