That concludes the proceedings for the T20I series. Both these teams will now shift their focus on the 3-match ODI series, starting on 10th July 2022 at 7 pm IST (1.30 pm GMT). Do join us in advance for the coverage. Until then, it's goodbye and cheers!
Nicholas Pooran, the captain of West Indies, is also the Player of the Match for his unbeaten 74 off just 39 balls. He also takes home the Player of the Series award. Starts by saying that he loves Guyana and is happy to perform in front of this crowd. Tells that he would have loved to bat first and get some batting practice but is happy to get two wins under the belt and win the series. He credits Kyle Mayers for his batting and says that he batted quite well absorbing the pressure nicely. Talks about his captaincy, and says that he backs his instincts and asks his teammates to trust him. Says that he may not take popular decisions all the time and shares that the decision to promote Odean Smith was taken because they wanted to utilise his potential completely. Talks about the upcoming series against India and New Zealand and says that they need to follow their process and back their skills.
Mahmudullah, the captain of Bangladesh, says that they had their opportunities and they started well with the ball but the partnership between Mayers and Pooran took the game away from them. Mentions that he was telling his bowlers to stick to the right lines and lengths and try to make them play against the wind. Reckons that they were 10 runs short and credits Litton Das and Afif Hossain for their knocks. Talks about the positives and says that they batted quite well and are batting with positive intent but adds that they need to be better with the ball.
Stay tuned for the presentation...
Earlier in the afternoon, it was a much-improved batting show by the touring team. Litton Das found some lost touch while Afif Hossain again showed his worth with the bat. Bangladesh would have hoped for a strong finish but it didn't happen and they fell short by 15-20 runs. That said, looking at the way West Indies demolished the target, those few extra runs would not have mattered much though.
Bangladesh started on a bright note with their army of spin bowlers but failed to maintain the same tempo, especially after the Powerplay. All their bowlers leaked too many boundary balls and the game slipped away from them very quickly. This is now their eighth straight loss across all international matches. A massive soul-searching is needed.
A target of 164 could have been tricky and once West Indies lost their first three wickets fairly cheaply, Bangladesh had the upper hand but the 85-run stand, off just 51 balls, between Nicholas Pooran and Kyle Mayers stole the momentum. The skipper led from the front and played some scintillating shots. Mayers did get out but Nicholas stayed till the end to steer his team home.
A comfortable chase in the end for the home team to close the series 2-0! Yet another thumping performance by them, especially with the bat when the chips were down. Credit goes to Nicholas Pooran and Kyle Mayers for their superb knocks. They batted with authority and made a complete mockery of the target.
In over# 19
6
1
Mahmudullah 7/0(0.2)
18.2
6
SIX! Pooran finishes it off in style! Flighted delivery, full and around middle, Nicholas Pooran shimmies down the track and clubs it over the bowler's head for a maximum. West Indies win by 5 wickets!
18.1
1
A touch short and around off, holding its line, Akeal goes back to punch but edges it down to third man for a run. Scores level.
Mahmudullah decides to bring himself on with just 2 needed to win.
In over# 18
1
1
6
1
0W
0
1wd
Afif Hossain 10/1(1)
17.6
1
Flatter and wide outside off, Akeal hits it firmly to sweeper cover for one.
17.5
1
Advances down the track to a full ball and drives it down to long off for a run. 3 more needed.
17.4
6
SIX! High and handsome! Loopy and full, outside off, Nicholas Pooran latches onto the room and smites it inside-out over extra cover.
17.3
1
Flighted and outside off, Akeal slices his drive through point for a single.
Akeal Hosein walks out to the middle.
17.2
W
OUT! CAUGHT! Afif Hossain darts it in full, wide outside off, Rovman Powell hurries down the track and has to reach out for it. His intention is to smash it over long off but the ball comes off the toe part of his willow and goes flat to the fielder in the deep. Litton Das times his jump to perfection and takes a fine catch. Too late for Bangladesh though. Only 11 needed off 16 balls.