Ramdin, Darren Bravo plunder Tigers

Denesh Ramdin and Darren Bravo scored centuries in the final ODI to put West Indies in a strong position to sweep Bangladesh in the three-match Dhaka Bank Cup series which ended at Warner Park in St Kitts, last night.

Ramdin continued his impressive form with a belligerent 169 while Bravo made 124, as the West Indies plundered a massive 339-7 in their 50 overs.

Up to press time, the visitors, who have already lost the series 2-0, were replying. 

A number of records tumbled during the innings and when Ramdin finally left for 169, he had equalled Brian Lara’s score off 169 scored against Sri Lanka at Sharjah. Only Sir Viv Richards’ 189 not out against England and his 181 against Sri Lanka were left standing. Ramdin faced 121 balls and struck 11 sixes and eight fours.

Dwayne Bravo’s decision to take first strike on a very good batting strip appeared to have backfired after both openers, Lendl Simmons and Chris Gayle, fell within the first five overs. 

Simmons (6) started with a boundary off the first over but misqued a pull off Mashrafe Mortaza. Gayle (6) played the straightest of straight drives off Al-Amin Hossain, then edged the same bowler for wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim to complete the catch and leave the host 12-2. 

Ramdin joined his T&T countryman Bravo and after getting through an initial rough period, the pair blossomed, with the left/right hand combination seeming to upset the Bangladesh bowlers.

Ramdin was first to his half century off 45 balls with three fours and three sixes. Bravo, who took a while longer arrived at his off 68 balls with four fours and three sixes.

After getting to their respective milestones, the two plundered the bowling, much to the delight of the small crowd at the picturesque venue. 

They brought up their century stand and then motored past the third wicket partnership record for West Indies against Bangladesh, which stood at 146, which was posted by Ramnaresh Sarwan and Marlon Samuels in 2002.

Next, the pair erased Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke’s highest third wicket partnership of 160 runs at the venue. The Australians compiled that score against South Africa at the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup in 2007.

The punishment continued and the pair were looking for the next record which was the highest ever third wicket partnership for the West Indies in limited overs cricket. That mark stood at 195 unbeaten between Barbadian Gordon Greenidge and Trinidadian Larry Gomes at Worcester against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup.

Beautiful stroke play was the order of the day. Ramdin, with just two runs needed for his century, dabbed Mortaza but the ball fell inches short of Rahim behind the stumps. 

Soon after, he got his second ODI hundred off 90 balls with six fours and five sixes. He celebrated with three sixes off the next three balls. 

In between Ramdin and Bravo raising their bats, there was still another milestone to be celebrated—the highest total for any wicket for the West Indies overall. They passed Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Carl Hooper’s effort of 226 against South Africa at East London in 1999.

Bravo then brought up his second ODI century off 112 balls with seven fours and six sixes. He and Ramdin added 258 runs before Bravo fell for 124. 

Keiron Pollard came and went for 10 but Ramdin continued to hammer the Bangladeshis. 

The La Romaine resident reached 150 off 107 deliveries with ten sixes and eight fours.

Ramdin’s Records

West Indies wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin made a record 169 off 121 balls with eight fours and 11 sixes.

It was the highest score by a West Indian wicket-keeper.

It was his second ODI century and second in four matches—surpassing his 128 against England in March.

It was the highest score for West Indies against Bangladesh—surpassing 126 by Marlon Samuels in 2012.

It was equal third highest score of all-time by a West Indian—Brian Lara 169 vs Sri Lanka in 1995.

Ramdin and Darren Bravo (128) added 258 for the third wicket—a West Indies all-time record for any wicket.

Scorecard

West Indies vs Bangladesh

WI inns

L Simmons c Mahmudullah 

b Mortaza 6

C Gayle c Rahim b Al-Amin 6

DM Bravo c Kayes 

b Mahmudullah 124 

D Ramdin c Hossain b Al-Amin 169

K Pollard c Iqbal b Razzak 10

D Sammy c Razzak b Al-Amin 10

DJ Bravo not out 3

J Holder c Hossain b Al-Amin 0

S Narine not out 0

Extras (lb4, w6) 10

Total 7 wkts (50ovs) 338

Fall of wkts: 7, 12, 270, 302, 320, 338, 338. 

Bowling: S Gazi 9-0-63-0, M Mortaza 10-0-69-1, Al Amin 10-1-59-4 (1w),

A Razzak 10-0-76-1 (4w), Mahmudullah 10-1-48-1 (1w), M Haque 1-0-19-0.