‘We don’t always get enough credit’ – Carlos Brathwaite

Calling the seven-wicket win a “really professional performance”, the Windies captain said, “We’re not given a lot of credit enough times for the way we play our cricket, and the professionalism we show.”

It certainly was a clinical performance from the Windies. They won the toss, fielded, had Ashley Nurse striking twice in the first over, and after Bangladesh had reached 95/5 after 10 overs, restricted them to 143/9. A DLS revised target of 91 in 11 overs was then finished with 11 balls left as Andre Russell, promoted to No.3, led the way with a 21-ball 35*.

“We thought we could chase anything that they set. I know the gusto that the boys went out there with. I guess it was best shown in the fielding effort, the guys shooting themselves around, and we saved some runs,” said Brathwaite.

The batting stars apart from Russell were Marlon Samuels and Rovman Powell. Openers Evin Lewis and Andre Fletcher were back with just 10 on the board, but there was no let up on the part of the batsmen. Samuels hit 26 in 13 balls, and Powell hit two sixes in a nine-ball 15*.

“Russell was promoted to No.3, and had an exceptional performance, finishing the game … Marlon’s knock was fantastic after losing two early wickets. Russell came in and finished it, and Rovman in the end put the cherry on the cake. Really professional performance, couldn’t ask for anything more,” gushed Brathwaite.

Excellent as the chase was, the win was set up by the bowlers. Nurse picked up those two wickets in the first over, and Keemo Paul (2/24) and Kesrick Williams (4/28) did their job later on.

“It really was even stevens, we got some early wickets, which put us just ahead. We continued to field well, we continued to keep the intensity up, and the bowlers hit the mark every time they were called upon,” said Brathwaite.

“Credit must go to Bangladesh for being in the position they were in, sticking it out and batting all 20 overs, and even being close to a respectable total after being 43/4. But our guys stuck to our guns, we stuck to our plans, we were disciplined, we executed our plans very, very well.”