Hope, Powell shine in WI victory over Bangladesh

The West Indies made a strong start to their three-match Twenty20 International series against Bangladesh with a hard-fought 16-run victory in the opening encounter on Monday at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

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After a sluggish beginning with the bat, the Caribbean side rode on a spectacular late surge from captain Shai Hope and Rovman Powell, whose explosive partnership powered them to 165 for 3—a total that proved just out of reach for the hosts.

Winning the toss, Hope chose to bat first on what he described as a “batting-friendly surface.”

However, the West Indies openers struggled to find rhythm early on. Brandon King and Alick Athanaze managed only 36 runs in the powerplay, as Bangladesh's spinners kept a tight grip on proceedings.

Nasum Ahmed was particularly effective, returning exceptional figures of O for 15 in four overs, stifling the flow of boundaries and forcing the visitors to take risks.